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The Latest Breaking News from The Russian Orthodox Church

Ukrainians Defy Moscow With First Dec. 25 Christmas

Many Ukrainians will on Monday celebrate Christmas Day on December 25 for the first time, after the government changed the date from the Orthodox Church observance of January 7 in a snub to Russia.

International Business Times · Dec 24, 2023

As Russia ramps up 'traditional values' rhetoric − especially against LGBTQ+ groups − it's won Putin far-right fans abroad

With LGBTQ+ rights continuing to expand across much of the world, Vladimir Putin’s Russia has doubled down on restricting them – and a new ruling has made the future even more uncertain for Russian LGBTQ+ groups and individuals.

The Conversation · Dec 15, 2023

Beloved Russian singer who criticized Ukraine war returns home. The church calls for her apology

The Russian Orthodox Church has called for an apology from Alla Pugacheva, the country’s most renowned pop singer who returned home this week, over her criticism of Russia's war on Ukraine

The Independent UK · Nov 3, 2023

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Brickbat: Don't Get Cross

The Russian central bank has stopped circulation of a new 1,000-ruble note following complaints from some priests of the Russian Orthodox Church. The priests complained that the image on the note of a church in Tatarstan does not have a cross on it. But the real church also does not…

Reason · Nov 3, 2023

On a US tour, Ukrainian faith leaders plead for continued support against the Russian invasion

A bishop from Ukraine has a succinct message for Americans: “Please, hear our cry.”

The Independent UK · Oct 31, 2023

Anger grows over Ukraine's largest Orthodox church, aligned with Moscow despite war

Millions of Ukrainians still worship in Orthodox churches deeply influenced by Russian clergy who support Moscow's invasion, sparking a clash of faith and national loyalty.

WEKU · Sep 30, 2023

Andrey Rublev has been called the ‘greatest Russian artist who ever lived’ – but one of his most famous works is at risk under Putin

Andrey Rublev (or Rublyov – nobody is sure how his name was pronounced) has been described as “the greatest Russian artist who ever lived”, whose work had “a clarity of composition and suave tranquillity of mood peculiarly his own”.

The Conversation · Sep 22, 2023

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Russian Orthodox priests face persecution from state and church for supporting peace in Ukraine

A small number of Russian Orthodox priests are publicly opposing their leader's support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and they're suffering the consequences

The Independent UK · Aug 12, 2023

Ukraine moves official Christmas Day holiday to Dec. 25, denouncing Russian-imposed traditions

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday signed a law moving the official Christmas Day holiday to Dec. 25 from Jan. 7, the day when the Russian Orthodox Church observes it

The Independent UK · Jul 29, 2023

Transfer of holy icon shows Russian Orthodoxy's new sway under Putin

President Vladimir Putin's decision to move one of Russia's holiest icons from a museum to a Moscow cathedral highlights his growing reliance on the Church as the Ukraine war drags on, but has also raised fears about the safety of the fragile artifact.

Reuters · Jun 3, 2023

Russian Orthodox Church fires Archpriest for 'obstruction' of icon transfer

Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, on Saturday dismissed his expert on art and restoration for obstructing the transfer of a historic 15th-century Trinity icon to the Church from a Moscow museum.

Reuters · May 27, 2023

Putin gave Orthodox Church famed icon because of its importance to believers: Kremlin

Russian President Vladimir Putin has decided to hand over the historic 15th-century Trinity icon from a museum to the Russian Orthodox Church because of its importance to believers, the Kremlin's spokesman said on Tuesday.The Church, whose conservatism Putin has espoused as part of his vision for Russia's national identity, is…

Reuters · May 16, 2023

Communities torn as Ukraine turns its back on Moscow-linked church

As a crowd gathered outside the white-brick Orthodox church in the village of Karyshkiv in western Ukraine, raised voices quickly turned to shouting. Soon old women were crying.

Reuters · May 12, 2023

Pope meets Moscow Church official after puzzling peace 'mission' comment

Pope Francis on Wednesday spoke to a top member of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) days after the pontiff made an intriguing but puzzling comment about the Vatican being involved in a mission to try to end the war in Ukraine.

Reuters · May 3, 2023

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The Independent UK · May 3, 2023

Pope greets Russian Orthodox envoy amid peace mission talk

Pope Francis has greeted the foreign envoy of the Russian Orthodox Church at the Vatican

Reuters · Apr 26, 2023

Czechs put Russian Patriarch Kirill on sanctions list over Ukraine

The Czech government has made the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, the first person on its national sanctions list due to his support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said on Wednesday.

The Guardian - UK · Apr 25, 2023

The enemy within? Ukraine’s Moscow-affiliated Orthodox Church faces scrutiny

Church alleged to be arm of the Kremlin – disguising Russian propaganda as religious teachings

Reuters · Apr 15, 2023

Russia's Putin attends midnight Orthodox Easter service in Moscow

President Vladimir Putin on Sunday attended an Easter service conducted by the Russian Orthodox Church, which has strongly backed the Kremlin leader's decision to invade Ukraine.

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France 24 · Apr 11, 2023

No, this video doesn’t show Ukrainians setting fire to an Orthodox church

Did Ukrainians really set a Russian Orthodox church on fire? A video purporting to show just that has been circulating online since April 5, 2023. However, it turns out that this video was filmed in Russia more than ten years ago and shows an accidental fire.

Reuters · Apr 5, 2023

Church accused of Moscow ties expelled from two parishes in western Ukraine

A Ukrainian branch of the Orthodox church accused of ties with Russia was expelled from the premises of two places of worship on Wednesday amid rising public anger against the organisation 14 months into Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

Reuters · Apr 5, 2023

Russia demands that Ukraine free Orthodox 'martyr' cleric from house arrest

Russia on Wednesday demanded that Ukraine free a top Orthodox cleric placed under house arrest by a Kyiv court this month in connection with allegations he had glorified Russia's invasion and stoked religious divisions.

The Independent UK · Mar 26, 2023

Tensions on the rise at revered Kyiv monastery complex

The Russian invasion of Ukraine is reverberating in a struggle for control of a monastery complex called the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra

Reuters · Mar 21, 2023

Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarch plans Lithuanian branch, in blow to Moscow

The spiritual head of Orthodox Christians worldwide said on Tuesday he would work with Lithuanian authorities to establish a new branch in the Baltic nation to ensure that believers are no longer under the sole supervision of Moscow.

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