Russian Orthodox Church

Russia claims it’s fighting Satanism in Ukraine: How far are they pushing this narrative?

It’s almost a year since the Russia-Ukraine war began. Initially, Vladimir Putin said that the military operation was to ‘de-Nazify’ the neighbouring country. However, in the past few months, the Kremlin has said that the conflict is Moscow’s attempt to ‘de-Satanise Kyiv’

Ukraine sanctions 22 associated with Russian Orthodox Church

A majority of Ukrainians are Orthodox Christians and the competition has been fierce between the branch of the church historically linked to Moscow and an independent church proclaimed after independence from Soviet rule in 1991

'Dying in Ukraine washes away all sins': Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill turns Putin's war into a crusade

Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill has called on believers to support pro-Russian 'brothers' during Moscow's offensive in eastern Ukraine

Priests or spies? How churches in Ukraine are being used in the war

Ukrainian authorities have arrested or publicly identified as suspects more than 30 clergymen and nuns of the Ukrainian arm of the Russian Orthodox Church. Kyiv describes them as a subversive force doing the Kremlin’s bidding

Ukrainians moving Christmas to 25 December to further religious separation from Russia

The Russian Orthodox Church, which claims sovereignty over Orthodoxy in Ukraine, continues to use the ancient Julian calendar. Christmas falls 13 days later on that calendar, or 7 January

Divine Right: Head of Russian Orthodox Church says Vladimir Putin's reign over Russia is mandated by God

The patriarch praised Putin for transforming the image of Russia, strengthening its sovereignty and its defence capability, protecting its national interests

The Russian Orthodox Church leader who gave his blessing for the war in Ukraine

Patriarch Kirill, a key supporter of Vladimir Putin, has justified the war, calling it a ‘religious cleansing operation’. Putin’s ‘altar boy’, as the Pope famously called him, is likely to be sanctioned by the European Union

Recep Tayyip Erdogan revives talk of turning Hagia Sophia into a mosque again, to international dismay

Hagia Sophia, one of the oldest and architecturally one of the most impressive cathedrals in the world, commands pride of place on the historical peninsula

Russian Orthodox Church stays away from historic church leaders meet

The gathering of leaders of Orthodx churches across the world, due to start on Sunday, has been 55 years in preparation

In his meeting with Pope Francis, Orthodox Church Patriarch to assert Russia's role

When Patriarch Kirill meets Pope Francis this week, the historic event will allow the head of the Russian Orthodox Church to assert Russia's leading role in the Eastern Christian world. It may also allow Kirill, a skillful political player with close ties to President Vladimir Putin, to open a new avenue of communication for the Kremlin as it tries to escape Western isolation.