Patriarch of Moscow and All-Russian Kirill offered to provide for the postponement of the mobilization of the clergy in Russian legislation. He expressed this in the Moscow Episcopal Assembly, according to the website of the Moscow Patriarchate.
The head of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) expressed regret today that the legislation did not provide for the postponement of mobilization for the clergy. According to him, during the last partial mobilization, in cooperation with the leadership of the Russian Ministry of Defense, it was possible to reach a temporary solution, since “the clergy were given the right to postpone the mobilization for their entire duration. stay in holy orders.”
“At the same time, I think it is important to correct this decision,” said Patriarch Kirill.
He said that he had already given the relevant instruction to the legal department of the Moscow Patriarchate that he wanted it “to deal with the solution of this problem.”
The head of the Russian Orthodox Church also noted that the holy canons strictly forbade clergy from entering military service. He added that, despite the loophole in the legislation, it was obvious to “many under the leadership” of the Russian Federation that the duty of the clergy was not “to participate in armed actions with weapons in their hands”.
Formerly Patriarch Kirill He insisted The Russians are going on a “spiritual mobilization” for the sake of reconciliation with Ukraine.