On March 15, Russian police detained Anastasia Parshkova, a young woman who stood outside Moscow’s main Orthodox cathedral holding a sign that read, “Thou shalt not kill.” Those words, straight from the biblical Ten Commandments, represented one reason why people of faith might be opposed to the Russian government’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24. It’s difficult to construe Russia’s unprovoked attacks against Ukraine as just or unavoidable. Yet among Russian Orthodox Church leaders, Parshkova would find little support. In April, Time magazine reported that although some brave priests had spoken out, not a single senior cleric inside Russia had expressed dissent against the war. Rather, the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, has staunchly defended and blessed Russia’s military exploits.
So much about Russia’s aggression toward Ukraine has been heartbreaking—from the violence against civilians to the separation of families—but, for me, one of the most gut-wrenching aspects has been watching the response of the Russian Orthodox Church. In a denomination with over 40,000 full-time clerics, fewer than 300 priests and deacons have signed an open letter, which has been circulating since March, calling for peace and reconciliation. They represent not even one percent of Russian Orthodox clergy.
Where are the others?
Some are silent. Others are actively advancing and promoting a nationalistic agenda within their congregations. Some have painted Putin as a hero—even a saint—even though his actions are wildly out of step with the example of Jesus. The Russian Orthodox Church has lost the heart and soul of what it means to follow Jesus. They have failed to be salt and light, a moral voice, or a compass pointing their leaders and followers alike to true north. Religion has been conscripted by the State. This unholy alliance never seems to end well.
The Gospel of Matthew teaches, “No one can serve two masters.” There is no reading of Scripture in which allegiance to God is at the same level of allegiance to a nation. When Pilate wondered if Jesus had come to usurp political power, He responded, “My kingdom is not of this world.” Jesus was here to establish a Kingdom, not to overthrow an empire, and the goal for His followers remains the same.
The Russian Orthodox Church has subordinated its God-given calling to the whims of a political leader and a state’s agenda. The church has been used as a political pawn of their president rather than an agent of change representing their King. Its credibility has been lost.
Jesus taught His disciples to pray, “May your Kingdom come, may your will be done on earth as in heaven.” May God’s Kingdom reign over Russia—and may our first and highest allegiance always be to our King and His Kingdom, not empires.
