Norwegian bishop of Orthodox Church disagrees with Russian colleague about Ukraine

The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, held a speech on Monday about why Russia has a historical right to Ukrainian territory. In reaction, Savva Tutunov, a high-ranking Russian bishop, wrote on Telegram that "the President's speech restores a complete understanding of Russian history." His colleague in Norway disagrees.

"We have been praying for peace in Ukraine for years, and we will continue to do so", the Norwegian clergyman, parish priest Kliment, says to Vartland. Kliment is a parish priest from the Holy Olga Congregation in Norway, which belongs to the Moscow Patriarchate. He says that the call for prayer is the "only instruction we have received." He furthermore states that the only thing he has heard from church officials is that the Russian Orthodox Church recognises Ukraine's sovereignty. "It feels strange to me that someone has said something else now."

Bishop Tutunov wrote that he hoped that the "President's speech is the beginning of a healing of memory loss." Tutunov is the bishop of Zelenograd, outside of Moscow, and said to be a close associate of Patriarch Kirill, the supreme leader of the Russian Orthodox Church.

"Church should stay out of political affairs"

The Norwegian parish priest says he does not want to comment on the political events in Russia and Ukraine. "I hope for a peaceful solution, without suffering." To Dagen Kliment, furthermore, states that he does not want to take a stance in the conflict. "We have members from both Russia and Ukraine and are not in conflict with anyone."

Personally, Father Kliment has never noticed any enmity between Ukrainians and Russians in the Church. "This conflict is probably on another level, not on a heart-to-heart level between people. I experience that people can distance themselves from political rhetoric and war incitement, and I would be very surprised if this conflict would branch out locally."

Rather, he emphasises that he thinks that the Church should stay out of politics and focus on religious matters.

In Vartland, Father Kliment asserts that he does not think that Putin uses the Russian Orthodox Church as a puppet. "We are a church with people from different countries, and I do not think that Patriarch Kirill is a naïve person who can be used. If the media publish a picture of Kirill and Putin together, it does not mean that they agree on absolutely everything."

Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the United States supports the Ukrainian Church under Kyiv Patriarchate

The Council of Bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA (UOC of the USA) supports the Ukrainian Orthodox Church under the Kyiv Patriarchate. That is reported by Orthodox Times.

The bishops sent a letter of support to the Primate of the Church in Ukraine. "As hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA and Diaspora, we address you with the sentiments of profound prayerful support, as the nation faces aggression of the Russian Federation", they write. "The clergy and faithful of the UOC of the USA and Diaspora are truly united in spirit, prayer and action with our brethren in Ukraine and Ukrainians throughout the world."