Metropolitan Hilarion (C), First Hierarch, with the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia

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Your Beatitude, Your Eminences, Your Graces, Reverend Clergy, Monastics, and Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

It is morally and spiritually reprehensible for one Orthodox country to invade another—and yet we have precisely this situation with Russia invading Ukraine. Our Hierarchs must speak more strongly and firmly against this abominable act of aggression. Thus far the messages have been far too feeble.

ROCOR is the one branch of the Russian Orthodox Church whose very existence is born from opposition to what was wrong. Our forebears stood steadfast against oppression and dictatorship. Now, today, a dreadful time has again come to oppose clearly misguided violence and lawless aggression, exactly as those forebears did before. Forces in Russia twist and distort the nation’s spirit so as to threaten our fellow brethren made in God’s image in the land that is the Mother of all Orthodox Rus’. Swiftly growing ranks of Russians in Russia risk arrest to protest.

It therefore falls to us to speak loudly and firmly. ROCOR must not be silent, ambiguous, or engage in misdirection of the faithful with critique of the media coverage rather than bold condemnation. We must be clear, right now, else we surrender all spiritual ground that has ever been gained by our arduous struggle against tyranny and totalitarian government.

Let us follow the example set by our spiritual brother, Metropolitan Onufry, head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate, who clearly and firmly condemned the Russian aggression.

May Ukraine forgive us.

Signed:

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Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II of All Georgia

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Onufry’s church in Ukraine has two options: either act by the old playbook or cut ties to Kirill.

Metropolitan Onufry of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate (L), Patriarch Kirill of Moscow (R)

Just as we were witnessing the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) mobilising and expanding its influence on the African continent, the recognition by Russian President Putin of Donetsk and Luhansk as “independent states” amid the renewed war against Ukraine brings to the fore the possible ecclesiastical implications of such a decision for the Ukrainian and Russian Churches. The official position of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP), according to Fr. Nikolai Danilevich, who is the Deputy Head of the Department for External Church Relations, is that it “considers these territories [Donetsk and Luhansk] and the people who live there to be part of Ukraine.” He says that the “dioceses in the Donbas remain part of the UOC and are managed from Kiev [sic]…”. According to him, the same applies to the situation in Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014. This supportive stance regarding Ukraine’s territorial integrity has been echoed by the Primate of the church Metropolitan Onufry and other high-level bishops from this church over the last couple of days. Read More

He is not here, for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where He lay.
Then go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead.
Matthew 28:6-7

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Sunday of Zacchaeus / Sunday of the Canaanite Woman
February 6

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Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee
February 13

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Sunday of the Prodigal Son
February 20

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Sunday of the Last Judgment
(Meatfare Sunday)
February 27

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Sunday of Forgiveness / Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise
(Cheesefare Sunday)
March 6

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Clean Monday
Beginning of Great Lent
March 7

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Sunday of Orthodoxy
March 13

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Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas
March 20

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Annunciation to the Most-Holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary
March 25

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Sunday of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross
March 27

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Sunday of St. John of the Ladder
April 3

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Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt
April 10

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Saturday of Lazarus
April 16

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Entrance of Our Lord, God, and Saviour Jesus Christ into Jerusalem
Palm Sunday
April 17

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Great and Holy Friday
April 22

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Great and Holy Sabbath
April 23

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GREAT AND HOLY PASCHA
RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD, GOD, AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST
April 24

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Sunday of St. Thomas
May 1

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Sunday of the Myrrhbearing Women
May 8

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Sunday of the Paralytic
May 15

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Mid-Pentecost
May 18

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Sunday of the Samaritan Woman
May 22

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Sunday of the Blind Man
May 29

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Ascension of Our Lord, God, and Saviour Jesus Christ
June 2

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Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council
June 5

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HOLY PENTECOST
DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ~ TRINITY SUNDAY
June 12

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Sunday of All Saints
June 19

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Beginning of the Apostles Fast / Peter and Paul Fast
June 20

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Sunday of All Local Saints
June 26

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Feast of SS. Peter and Paul
June 29 / July 12

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Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!

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