The hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Mark (Holovkov) of Ryazan and Mykhailiv, called to “pray for the enemies” – Ukraine and the collective West.
According to the bishop, people often think about how they should treat their enemies, those people whose “heart boils” at the mention of them. Metropolitan Mark recalled that the Church calls to pray for enemies, and explained why exactly, noting what awaits the ill-wishers for whom they pray, Russian media reported.
“These people will not change and our attitude towards them will not change. How does the Church teach to treat enemies? The Church teaches to pray for enemies. Why is it necessary to pray? Because prayer is the only power that can change enemies. <…> When we pray for them, the Lord changes their hearts, the Lord leads them through sorrows, through trials, and they often change themselves or change their attitude towards us,” said the Metropolitan of Ryazan.
“If we want the enemy numbers to decrease or for them to change, to change their attitude towards us, let’s remember them without sorrow, without indignation, asking God for them. And they will definitely change,” concluded the bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church.
