Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church, who celebrated Christmas alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin, declared today that the Western world holds animosity towards Russia and its chosen “alternative path of civilized development.”
Russian Orthodox Christians observe Christmas on January 7, following the Julian calendar.
Patriarch Kirill, known for supporting Russia’s actions in Ukraine, blessed religious icons and crosses bearing President Putin’s initials, intended for soldiers engaged in the conflict in Ukraine for the past 34 months, as reported by Russian news agencies citing Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
“Russia poses a challenge to powerful nations not because of its nuclear capabilities or military might,” Kirill stated, as per news reports.
“They harbor hostility towards us because we present a different, alternative path of civilized development,” Kirill remarked at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, reconstructed in the 1990s on the site where a swimming pool once stood, demolished by Soviet leader Joseph Stalin in the 1930s.
“The Western world is experiencing a moral crisis,” he added, emphasizing that Russia has demonstrated how to integrate science and culture with education and faith.
“Their efforts to undermine us, whether through smear campaigns or by forming alliances to weaken Russia, will not prevail because God is on our side,” he concluded.
Putin has sought endorsement from the Church for the conflict in Ukraine and has criticized what he perceives as Western decadence, including the promotion of LGBTQ+ rights.
In his Christmas address, the Russian President commended the Church for its role in “strengthening family structures, nurturing youth, and upholding moral values.”
