See also my website, https://anniebee4history.wixsite.com!!
Dear Readers,
Because we are members of the Russian Orthodox Church, some friends have wondered about our perspective on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. I can briefly state here that no one I know personally in the Russian Church supports the invasion.
First, some background on Ukraine's history:
- Ukraine is the second largest country in Europe. (Russia is the largest.)
- Ukraine shares borders with several other countries: Russia, Belarus, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova. It also has coastline along the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea.
- Ukraine is not only surrounded by many types of people and cultures, Ukraine has long been home to a great variety of ethnic peoples.
- Russia borders Ukraine to the east, and many of the people living in eastern Ukraine today are descended from Russian peasants.
- West of the Russian-border regions, the people calling themselves Ukrainians are mixed Slavic people, mostly of Russian origin, who speak the Ukrainian language.
- The land of Ukraine is rich in resources and is a major producer of grain.
- The region of modern Ukraine had been part of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union.
- Modern Ukraine became a sovereign country in 1991, with the collapse of the Soviet Union, after the people of the region voted overwhelmingly in favor of making Ukraine an independent country.
- The citizens of Ukraine have been very vocal of their distaste for political corruption and desire for alliances with the European Union.
- In 2014, Russia used military force to seize the Crimean peninsula from Ukrainian control and annex it to Russia, which still controls Crimea.
- In 2019, Ukraine changed its constitution in a way that created closer ties between NATO, the EU, and Ukraine.
- In 2021, Ukraine made a change in laws regarding farmland that greatly opened its grain and produce markets to regions outside of Eastern Europe.
- Russia's leaders, particularly Putin, view Ukraine as a Russian province, not a sovereign country.
- NATO has broken ties with Russia since the annexation of Crimea, and the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO is seen as a threat by the Russian government.
A Challenging Time for the Russian Orthodox Church:
- The city of Kyiv (aka Kiev) in Ukraine is greatly important to the Russian Orthodox Church. Vladimir the Great of Kiev dispensed with Slavic pagan beliefs, adopted Christianity, and was baptized, along with his family and people, into the Byzantine Christian Church in about 988 A.D.
- In the modern world, people of both Russian and Ukrainian heritage have continued to share in the faith and traditions of Russian Orthodox parishes.
- Patriarch Kirill of Moscow heads the administration of the worldwide Russian Orthodox Church, but he is ruling bishop only of his diocese of Moscow (unlike the Pope of Rome, who rules the worldwide Roman Church).
- Members of the Russian Church, especially outside of Russia but also many who live within Russia, are disturbed by the actions of the Russian government and frustrated by the failure of Patriarch Kirill to condemn the violence.
- Despite claims by Vladimir Putin that he was baptized, and his habit of attending services on major holidays, it is doubtful that he has ever been a practicing Orthodox Christian. Many claim that he sees the church as a political tool.
- Russian bishops, especially outside of Russia, have instructed church members to pray fervently for peace in Ukraine, and they have endorsed relief efforts for Ukrainian refugees.
- In April 2022, there were protestors in front of our San Francisco cathedral, upset over Patriarch Kirill's support of Putin's actions. The protestors departed after members of our parish explained to them that the Patriarch does not speak for our parishioners, many of whom are of Ukrainian descent (including one of our local bishops).
- Our Western American Diocese sends all collected donations directly to our bishops in Ukraine, who know where the needs are greatest.
Links for more information:
A Brief History of Ukraine (and why Russia wants to control it) [An excellent video that provides a synopsis of the situation.]
A Russian Nun on the Ukraine War [A respected scholar, Sister Vassa is an American nun living in Vienna, Austria. Like myself, she belongs to the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR), "the free voice" of the church.]
I would like to conclude by quoting my respected friend of over 30 years, Archbishop Benjamin of San Francisco and the West (of our sister church, the Orthodox Church in America):
"We are here not to condemn any of our brothers, but to call them to repentance, to urge them to cease killing each other and grieving God who cares for every human soul.... I would like to say how proud I am to have known Metropolitan [archbishop] Onufry of Kiev and Ukraine. This conflict has placed him and his entire Church in a very awkward and difficult position. Nevertheless, he has shown great leadership and care for his flock. He is a remarkable shepherd and I urge you to pray for him in particular, that God will protect him and give him courage to continue to do and say what is right."
+Annie
