Russia's Orthodox Church officially blesses the war, approving at least 12 prayers
Photo: Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill (Getty Images)
The Russian Orthodox Church is increasingly incorporating the war into its worship texts. At least 12 prayers that justify Russia's aggression have now been officially approved, according to Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation.
According to the center, before Russia's full-scale invasion, the Russian Orthodox Church's rhetoric about the war was more veiled and included calls "for peace." However, Russian researchers note that since 2022, the militarization of church texts has become increasingly explicit.
According to the center, a mandatory prayer "for Holy Rus" is particularly significant. It includes a request for Russia's victory and is recited in every Russian Orthodox Church parish. Priests who refuse to read the prayer may reportedly be stripped of their clerical status.
The Russian Orthodox Church's Synod has also approved new prayers for Russian military personnel, their mothers and other groups.
Unofficial texts have also reportedly circulated at the front, including a prayer about "Archangel Vladimir" that compares Russian President Vladimir Putin to the Archangel Michael.
"The systematic imposition of Z-prayers clearly demonstrates that the Russian Orthodox Church is exclusively a propaganda institution of the Kremlin. Its activities have nothing to do with spirituality or Christian ethics," the center concluded.
The Ukrainian military intelligence agency previously said that the Russian Orthodox Church is being used by the Kremlin as an instrument of influence abroad.
According to Illia Pavlenko, a former deputy head of Ukraine's military intelligence, Russian Orthodox clergy outside Russia perform not only religious functions but also help promote Russian propaganda and, according to Ukrainian intelligence, have ties to Russian intelligence agencies.
