While Russian troops are killing and occupying Ukraine with the “blessing” of Patriarch Kirill, Metropolitan Sawa of Warsaw and All Poland wished the head of the Moscow Patriarchate “the destruction of evil” in Ukraine.
This is stated in his greeting address on the occasion of the 14th anniversary of Kirill’s enthronement, posted on the website of the Russian Orthodox Church.
“We deeply believe that the evil that destroys the divine church body will be destroyed by Christ, the conqueror of death and hell,” the head of the Polish Church wrote.
The Polish hierarch ignored the sinful and criminal invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces and the fact that Kirill has blessed the lawlessness being committed by the invaders against the Ukrainian people. Instead, he wished Kirill “many years…of health and all the good” and sent “heartiest, brotherly greetings and wishes.”
Moreover, Sawa stated that during Kirill’s rule, the Russian Orthodox Church “shines with a spiritual revival” and that it sets an example for others. He says that the enemies do not like church stability, seeking to destroy it, and that what happened in Ukraine is a clear example. The head of the Polish Church, which received autocephaly from the Ecumenical Patriarchate at the beginning of the 20th century, is likely referring to the granting of the Tomos to the OCU.
Last year, Sawa accused Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of deepening the religious divide in Ukraine. Repeating Russian narratives, he considers Tomos of autocephaly for the OCU as something that divides Ukrainian Orthodoxy. Moreover, Sawa deliberately fails to mention the Unification Council convened by the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Ukraine in order for Tomos to receive the fullness of Orthodoxy in Ukraine, and not some part of it. With all that, Sawa says that autocephaly can be granted only when all Orthodox in Ukraine unite. Despite the fact that it was the UOC (MP) that refused to unify, Sawa does not criticize them for this.
