Russia is becoming a "spiritual opponent of Western civilization," as in the West, "sin is justified."
In Russia, there must be a public consensus on the most important issues, and those who disagree with the proposed solutions should be considered "traitors to the Motherland," stated Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Rus'. "There are concepts that are related to the very ability and possibility of the state to exist. Around these ideas, these concepts, there must inevitably be a public consensus. If someone falls out of this consensus, there is such a definition — a traitor to the Motherland with all the ensuing legal consequences," said the head of the Russian Orthodox Church.
According to him, consensus is necessary "around the most important issues of our security." "I mean not only security in terms of possible military aggression but also our spiritual and moral security, that is, the preservation of our values, which are significantly shaped by the traditional religions of Russia," noted the patriarch. He also stated that Russia is becoming a "spiritual opponent of Western civilization," as in the West, "sin is justified." Among the problems of Western civilization, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church also mentioned the pursuit of personal freedom, which, in his opinion, leads to the loss of moral components and the degradation of the younger generation.
At the same time, the patriarch believes that it is the West that has turned against Russia, as it represents "a very attractive alternative to civilizational development." "We propose not to expel the Christian faith, as is currently happening in the West. We do not accept what is now accepted in the West under the slogan of 'human rights,' but which is actually aimed at destroying human morality," noted the head of the Russian Orthodox Church.
In addition, according to him, there is currently no concept of "heroism" in the West, which implies a violation of comfort. "Heroism is done in the name of something, but not in the name of oneself and one’s loved ones. And this focus on oneself — this is maximum selfishness, which today manifests itself in the life of Western society as well," said the patriarch. He added that without heroism, including labor heroism, it is impossible to defend and build such a strong country as Russia. "Heroism is required," concluded the head of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Patriarch Kirill (in the world — Vladimir Mikhailovich Gundyayev; born November 20, 1946, Leningrad, USSR) is a bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church. He has been the Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus' since February 1, 2009, and the Metropolitan of Kaliningrad since August 24, 2023 (as the head of the Kaliningrad Metropolis). Before his patriarchal enthronement, he was the Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad (in the Smolensk see since December 26, 1984); from November 14, 1989, to February 1, 2009, he was the chairman of the Synodal Department for External Church Relations (DECR) and a permanent member of the Holy Synod. On January 27, 2009, he was elected Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus' by the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church. In 2016, he held a meeting in Cuba with Pope Francis, the first meeting in the history of Christianity between the heads of the Russian Orthodox and Catholic Churches. In 2018, after the granting of autocephaly to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine by Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church severed Eucharistic communion with the Patriarchate of Constantinople. Since 2022, he has been under sanctions from the UK, Lithuania, Canada, and Ukraine for his "outstanding support of Russian military aggression in Ukraine"; since 2023 — from Australia, New Zealand, the Czech Republic, and Estonia.
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