Patriarch Cyril: The US does not want to target a religious leader

Edited by: Marina Zioziou

He is one of the prominent supporters of Vladimir Putin, as he offers generous … spiritual cover for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, while he is considered to be “gaining” from his connection and ties with Russia’s security services.

The reason for him Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill, which has not yet been “punished” by the United States, despite calls from Ukrainian activists and other international analysts, as well as officials, who see it as a “catastrophic force” in an already brutal war. The British and Ukrainians recently imposed sanctions on Cyril, while an attempt by the European Union in early June fell on deaf ears due to Hungarian opposition.

In Brussels, the European Union recognized Cyril’s influence in the Ukraine war, considering sanctions against him. While acknowledging the Moscow Patriarch’s support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its propagandistic behavior, Hungary objected, saying the move was “inappropriate” and contrary to the “fundamental principles of religious freedom”. The only opposite voice prevailed and Cyril was left out of the black list!

The United Kingdom chose to impose sanctions on Cyril mainly because of his rhetoric. «Patriarch Kirill has made many public statements in favor of the Russian invasion of Ukraine“, States the British list of sanctions. «Provides support to or promotes any policy or action that destabilizes Ukraine or undermines or threatens the territorial integrity, sovereignty or independence of Ukraine».

“Friendship with Putin, wealth and intelligence”

Cyril’s rumored wealth, his friendship with Putin and his alleged long-standing ties to Russia’s spy and security services have drawn comparisons with dozens of oligarchs whose links to the Kremlin have led to a series of US sanctions. the last months. It is his preaching, however, that his critics say is the biggest problem, but that could also be the very reason that the US has not yet “punished” him.

The Russian religious leader systematically urges his flock to support Putin’s war effort, denying any guilt for the invasion, while describing Russia’s adversaries in Ukraine as “evil forces.” «“We as a people have accepted the persecution,” Cyril said at a Mass on the weekend. “The feeling of love for the homeland is growing and we see how our young children are now defending Russia on the battlefield.».

In the days following the news of the massacre of hundreds of Ukrainians in Butsa, Cyril gave a “present” to a military church and praised the Russians as “peaceful and modest people” who would be ready to “protect the homeland” under any conditions.

US officials and politicians understand the frustration of Ukrainians, but some wonder if it is worth chasing Cyril when there are other Russians who could be better … targets. There is also the possibility that such an imposition would intensify Russian support for their religious leader, who saw the move as a spiritual persecution.

«I’m not sure there is an active interest in sanctioning a religious leader right now in the United States Congress.“, Said the deputy Steven Leedswho chairs the National Security Committee of the House of Representatives.

“Divine interventions”

Cyril’s apparent relationship with the Kremlin has strengthened his influence and it is clear that he maintains excellent relations with Vladimir Putin.
«It is gratifying to know that under your guidance, the Church participates in fruitful interaction with the state, contributing significantly to the promotion of traditional spiritual, moral and family values ​​in society, to educating the younger generation and to fostering harmony and mutual understanding between of people in these difficult times“, Wrote the Russian president in his letter to Cyril at Easter.

The current Patriarch of Moscow was born on November 20, 1946 in Leningrad (modern-day St. Petersburg) as Vladimir Mikhailovich Gudyaev, the son of a priest and a German teacher. In his family, the priesthood seems to have played a decisive role in the path he eventually followed and the character he formed. It is worth mentioning that his grandfather, his father and his brother were also priests.

Cyril began his post-graduate career with an appointment to represent the Russian Orthodox Church at the World Council of Churches in Geneva in 1971. He rose through the ranks and was a member of the organisation’s central and executive committee until 1975, before turning 30. years. He continued to rise for most of the 1970s and 1980s, culminating in his position as head of the Church Affairs Department of the Russian Church for two decades.

But, according to his information «Politico», his promotion to the hierarchy of the Moscow Patriarchate is not just accidental as he has been accompanied by the suspicion that he was a KGB agent. It is noteworthy that his position in the KGB also coincides with the early career of Putin, who joined the service in 1975. The Russian president reportedly spent time in New Zealand, pretending to be the secret shoe seller and later the secret translator in the East. Germany.

A few years ago, officers from Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), the KGB’s successor, attended a construction site for a new church near the FSB building in Moscow, along with Patriarch Kirill. During the ceremony, the Chief Officer, Victor Ostrukhovstated that “his armed officers accompany the church and are concerned about attacks on the Christian way of life».

«Everyone knows that part of the Russian church is full of agents. This could not have happened without the approval of the top of the Moscow Patriarchate. After all, Cyril emerged through this system“, Says the Russian researcher and national security journalist, Andrei Soldatov, shortly before being included in the Kremlin’s federal wanted list. «It was a mutually beneficial relationship».

Years ago, Soldatov added, the relationship between the FSB and the church was strengthened when several Catholic priests were expelled from the country on suspicion of espionage, leading activists to believe the Orthodox Church had pressured the state to crack down on religious rivalry and dissent. Another Catholic priest was expelled from Russia in mid-April after his visa was revoked for unexplained reasons.

The Russian Orthodox Church continued to grow after the election of Cyril to the Patriarchate. Despite declining church attendance, more than 150 Russian Orthodox dioceses have sprung up and nearly 10,000 more clergy have joined the Patriarchate since 2009, according to the church’s 2019 report. It is a common secret that the Kremlin is sending agents abroad.

“The strange … wealth”

In the 1990s, the Kremlin handed over a tobacco license to the Russian Orthodox Church to set up a company to import duty-free cigarettes. This business reportedly brought in over $ 75 million (!). And, quite by accident, it was administered by the Department of Ecclesiastical Affairs of the Church of Russia, under Cyril. Many ill-wishers express the view that part of the proceeds boosted his staff piggy bank.

In 2012, Russian bloggers spotted Cyril wearing a $ 30,000 Breguet watch in an interview, a luxury that was theoretically beyond his means. Although the Moscow Patriarchate tried to “correct” the situation with photoshop, it forgot to remove its reflection on the table. A 2020 survey by the Russian independent media outlet “Proekt” found that nine million-euro properties in Russia belong to or are linked to Cyril.

«The United States recognizes religious freedom as an inalienable right and is committed to upholding and promoting it for all.Said a State Department spokesman.

America’s reluctance to impose sanctions may be indicative of the way in which Washington views religion. But in Russia, Soldatov argues, the boundaries between church and state are not just blurred, they are almost indistinguishable.

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