Russian Orthodox Church Head Urges Wealthy Russians To Give Money To State

Gundyaev said it would help "find salvation".

Russia has become "a strong state capable of responding to the challenges and risks it faces," but a country at war needs help from its wealthy citizens. This was stated by Russian Orthodox Church leader Vladimir Gundyaev, known as Patriarch Kirill, in a sermon after a liturgy at the Church of the Transfiguration in Kommunarka, The Moscow Times reports.

The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church noted that every wealthy person should remember that wealth is a "great responsibility" for everyone, and only using it for good purposes one can "find salvation." He also stressed that through the wealth of many people the general well-being of the nation can be increased and their security, independence and freedom can be ensured along with it.

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church urged wealthy Russians to help the state and donate their money to charity, thereby serving others. "Every wealthy person should remember that he will be justified before God only when he helps others with his possessions and opportunities," the patriarch stressed.

Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, Patriarch Kyrill has become one of its main "advocates". He has repeatedly justified the invasion of Ukraine in his sermons. For example, in September he told Russian servicemen not to be afraid to die in a war with Ukraine. Those who, "driven by a sense of duty", die in war "sacrifice themselves for others", so this sacrifice "washes away all sins", the patriarch said.

Patriarch Kirill is under sanctions imposed by Britain, Canada and Lithuania. The European Union also tried to impose restrictions on him, but he was removed from the blacklist at the request of Hungary. At the same time, the EU leadership called the patriarch a "propagandist for the Russian president". In the opinion of the leaders of the majority of the member states, "he supports and explains Vladimir Putin's point of view" on the war in Ukraine in his religious sermons.