Patriarch Kirill

The Kremlin cites the termination of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church’s lease as further proof that Russia’s actions over the past year in Ukraine are justified — claiming that Russia is defending a beleaguered Orthodox population.

Russian officials have denounced the Ukrainian government as “enemies of Christ and the Orthodox faith” over security service raids on churches accused of links to Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin praised Moscow Patriarch Kirill Sunday for his wise leadership and careful oversight of church-state relations.

Pope Francis has sent his representative Cardinal Konrad Krajewski to Ukraine for the fourth time, to let the Ukrainian people know they are not alone.

The head of the Vatican’s office for promoting Christian unity has accused Russian Patriarch Kirill of “heresy” for his defense of his nation’s war on Ukraine.

Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, reassured his compatriots Sunday that Russia is proceeding on the right path in its aggression against Ukraine and deserves “very strong cohesion and consolidation.”

Ukrainian Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk said Sunday there is “no safe and quiet city” in all of Ukraine because of Russia’s widespread shelling of the country.

The Orthodox Bishop Epiphanius, Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine, called Russian president Vladimir Putin the “new Antichrist” who has “decided to destroy the Ukrainian people.”

Pope Francis insisted Tuesday that Moscow Patriarch Kirill is hurting rather than helping the situation in Ukraine by his support for Putin’s war.

Bishop Stanislav Šyrokoradjuk of Odessa, Ukraine, said Thursday that diplomacy has failed to resolve the Russian war on Ukraine and all that remains is self-defense.

The Archbishop of Canterbury spoke with Russian Patriarch Kirill Wednesday, stressing the need for an end to violence in Ukraine.

Pope Francis met by video conference with Moscow Patriarch Kirill Wednesday to discuss the war in Ukraine and “the role of Christians and their pastors in doing everything to ensure that peace prevails,” the Vatican announced.

Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill has defended Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a necessary response to Western intervention in the region.

The leader of the Russian Orthodox Church said that the Antichrist will run the “world wide web” and that powerful data-gathering devices are a harbinger of his arrival.

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church attacked the Church of England’s “liberalisation” at a meeting with the Archbishop of Canterbury earlier this week. Patriarch Kirill raised “serious concerns” with Justin Welby over the Anglican Church’s decision to ordain women

Bishop Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, has decried the “shocking” persecution of Christians in some African countries, who are being “simply swept away by radical Islamists.” After meeting Monday with the Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Congo,

Contents: Orthodox ‘Great and Holy Council’ marred by defections and controversies; History of Catholic and Orthodox Christian ‘Ecumenical’ Councils

The Chaldean bishop of Aleppo, Antoine Audo, reported Wednesday that in only five years of conflict and persecution, the Christian population in Syria has been reduced by two thirds, from 1.5 million to only 500,000 today.

In a historic meeting Friday, Pope Francis met with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill at the Havana airport, and the two signed a joint declaration of common belief and purpose, including a vigorous defense of religious liberty, marriage between a man and a woman, and an unborn’s inviolable right to life.

On the first anniversary of the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL) slaughter of 21 Coptic Christians on a beach in Libya, Pope Francis and Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill denounced in a joint declaration the systematic persecution of Christians throughout the world.

Pope Francis met Friday with Patriarch Kirill in the first ever meeting between a pontiff and the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, a historic development in the 1,000-year schism that has divided Christianity.

In one of the most visibly affectionate messages of his papacy, Pope Francis has sent a video to the people of Mexico in preparation for his upcoming visit.

On February 12, history will be made as Francis becomes the first pope ever to meet with the spiritual leader of Russian Orthodoxy, Patriarch Kirill of “Moscow and All Russia.” For over 1,000 years eastern and western Christianity have been

Contents: Russia dramatically escalates Syria war launching cruise missiles from Caspian Sea; Russian Orthodox Church declares a ‘Holy War’ in Syria; Russia’s ‘Holy War’ in Syria declaration sparks calls for jihad; IMF warns of significant danger of global financial crash

An historic meeting between Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church is “getting closer every day,” a senior Orthodox prelate said in an interview published on Sunday.