On Friday, February 24, one year into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Ignatie of Husilor, criticized the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Kirill (Gundyaev), for supporting the Putin regime.
In a post on social media, the archbishop condemned the Russian invasion of a neighboring country, saying that “for a year, the political and religious leaders of Russia have deliberately ignored and distorted the Gospel of love and peace of Jesus Christ, in whom they falsely say they believe,” G4Media.ro reports.
“Besides, as any conscientious historian can verify, Orthodoxy in its development has always been on the side of love, not hatred and murder. Therefore, the Russian invasion of Ukraine is also an implicit betrayal of Orthodoxy, which in its essence has always been consonant with the eternal values of the Gospel. It would be wonderful if all of them in the last hour remembered the prophetic words of Isaiah: “When you lift up your hands to Me, I turn away My eyes, but when you multiply your prayers, I do not listen to them. Your hands are full of blood; wash yourself, cleanse yourself! Do no more evil in My sight. Stop immediately! Learn to do good, seek justice, help the oppressed, do justice to the orphan, protect the widow!” noted Ignatius.
The bishop repeatedly criticized the attempts of the Moscow Patriarch to find an explanation for the conflict in Ukraine, and claimed that the war cannot be justified in any way. After the start of the armed conflict, the bishop said that Patriarch Kirill should remember that he is a shepherd who serves in the name of the shepherd Jesus Christ, who is “love” and must have the courage not to agree to war.
