World Russian People's Council: Ukraine War Declared 'Sacred'

The World Russian People’s Council (WRPC), chaired by Patriarch Kirill, has declared the war in Ukraine as “sacred,” advocating for the entirety of modern-day Ukraine to fall under Russia’s exclusive influence.

Published on the website of the Moscow Patriarchate on March 27th, the so-called decree of the WRPC, an organisation chaired by Patriarch Kirill, describes the conflict in Ukraine as a “Special Military Operation,” positioning it as a new phase in the Russian people’s struggle against the “criminal Kiev regime” and the collective West.

Although formally distinct from the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC), the WRPC includes numerous church hierarchs and figures associated with the church.

According to the publication, the document was approved during a synodal congress held on March 27th at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow, chaired by Patriarch Kirill. The document is addressed to the legislative and executive authorities of Russia.

The decree dedicates its first section to the war, portraying it as a spiritual mission to defend the unity of Holy Rus, characterising Russia and its people as guardians protecting the world from the encroachment of Western globalisation and the triumph of Western Satanism.

Furthermore, it expands on the concept of the “Russian world,” asserting its spiritual and cultural significance beyond the borders of the current Russian Federation, encompassing territories historically linked to Russia.

The document advocates for recognising Belarusians and Ukrainians merely as sub-ethnicities of Russians and proposes offering asylum in Russia for millions of foreigners defending traditional values.

It also suggests educational reforms and a revision of humanitarian knowledge, aligning it with the worldview and moral values of Russian civilisation.

Konstantin Malofeev, a businessman, founder of the Tsargrad TV channel, and a sponsor of pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine, served as Deputy to Patriarch Kirill on the WRPC.

His ultra-conservative views, reflected in the decree, echo doctrines from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, justifying the preservation of absolute monarchy and a state church.

This doctrine is closely linked to other notions of Russia’s exceptional mission, such as “Moscow – Third Rome.”

Recently, Malofeev announced his intention to step down and establish a foundation advocating for so-called traditional values.

Patriarch Kirill initially refrained from openly endorsing Russia’s large-scale invasion. However, over time, he increasingly condemned Ukraine and the West, suggesting a spiritual significance to the war.

Subsequently, he instructed all churches to recite the so-called Prayer for Holy Rus, invoking the bestowal of victory upon “Holy Rus.”

Clergy members who refuse to comply face sanctions, including defrocking.

Main Image: Kremlin.ru