The World Council of Churches (WCC) has expressed strong objections to a recent decree endorsed by Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church, which characterizes Russia’s military actions in Ukraine as a “Holy War.”
The decree, titled “The Present and Future of the Russian World,” was ratified on March 27, 2024, during the XXV World Russian People’s Council held in Moscow.
The controversial decree, directed at Russia’s legislative and executive branches, contradicts previous statements made by Patriarch Kirill himself, as well as established policies of the WCC.
These policies, aligned with biblical teachings, advocate for Christians to act as peacemakers, especially in times of conflict.
During a meeting in Moscow in May 2023, Patriarch Kirill assured the WCC General Secretary, Rev. Prof. Dr. Jerry Pillay, that his references to a ‘Holy War’ pertained to a metaphysical context, not the physical conflict in Ukraine.
He agreed that no armed conflict could be deemed ‘holy,’ aligning with the WCC’s doctrine that war contradicts the nature and will of God.
However, the new decree asserts that Russia’s ongoing conflict in Ukraine represents “a new stage of the national liberation struggle of the Russian people,” a stance starkly opposing the WCC’s previous resolutions.
These resolutions, reaffirmed by the WCC’s Central Committee and the 11th Assembly, have condemned the invasion as “illegal and unjustifiable” and criticized the misuse of religious language to justify aggression.
The WCC’s existing stance, which was supported by representatives from the Russian Orthodox Church during its formulation, has led to significant discord within the ecumenical community.
In response, Rev. Pillay has penned a letter to Patriarch Kirill seeking clarification on the Russian Orthodox Church’s position and has requested an urgent meeting to address these inconsistencies.
The unfolding situation places the Russian Orthodox Church’s membership in the WCC at risk, as it challenges the fundamental Christian and ecumenical principles upheld by the global church community.
