Russian Church: Global war almost inescapable

Moscow, February 17, Interfax – The current global contradictions could deteriorate into a global war sooner or later, the Moscow Patriarchate said.

“There are many processes ongoing in the world in which Russia should play a much more active role, since the economic and social contradictions that have cropped up in the world are so strong that they are sure to blow up into serious military operations,” head of the Synodal Department for Church and Society Relations Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin said in an interview with the Svobodnaya Pressa (Free Press) Publishing House.

“”In order to ensure that these military operations not unfold in our territory or in the vicinity of our borders, we need to keep our armed forces combat ready and to participate in settling all situations that may lead to a war, be it the Middle East or Central Asia where the situation is also tense,” he said.

“By all accounts, we will not manage to escape a big war,” he said.

Father Vsevolod also said that the development track of the civilization may lead to the annihilation of cities.

Syrian political structure should correspond with its people’s will, the Russian Church official says

Moscow, February 17, Interfax – The Moscow Patriarchate official stresses that political processes in Syria should “entirely” correspond with the will of Syrian people.

“We heartily wish it to Syrian people and pray that peace and tranquility is again established on this blessed ancient land so that political and state structure in Syria, first of all, correspond to the strives of its people,” Deputy Head of the Department for External Church Relations of the Russian Church Hegumen Filaret (Bulekov) said at his meeting with a Syrian delegation in Moscow.

The priest reminded that he worked in Syria in 1996-1999 and today “it hurts” him to hear how Orthodox believers are exposed to aggression in Syria and an Orthodox priest has been recently killed there.

“Not far ago it was impossible,” he said and pointed out that it is necessary to provide security for work of religious communities in the country.

Religious figures, businessmen, actors, Syrian figures of culture participated in the meeting.

Patriarch has right to election projections – Russian Church

Moscow, February 17, Interfax – The Russian Orthodox Church has insisted that Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia has the right to make forecasts regarding the forthcoming presidential election.

“Why would anyone, even a Patriarch, not be allowed to discuss their assessments and projections?” head of the Synodal Department for Church and Society Relations Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin said at the Svobodnaya Pressa Publishing House, when asked by a reader whether it was “the patriarch’s business to assess who is the real candidate and who is not.”

“For most people it is obvious that one of the candidates has a higher rating and higher degree of support than others, which does not mean that the others are bad or not worth having a dialogue and should not have their speeches assessed,” the priest said.

Patriarch Kirill made a pre-election forecast at a recent meeting between Prime Minister and presidential candidate Vladimir Putin and religious figures. “We would like to talk to you both as Prime Minister, but first and foremost as our presidential candidate, a candidate who, of course, has the biggest chance of realizing this candidacy into the actual office,” the church Primate said.

His words prompted controversy in the media.

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