“Are You From Western Ukraine?” – Patriarch Kirill Mocks Priest Who Rejected Patriotic Agenda

Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church sharply responded to Priest Alexei Shlyapin’s call for the Church to focus on spiritual matters rather than patriotic rhetoric.

A video fragment was published by defrocked Protodeacon Andrey Kuraev and journalist Ksenia Luchenko. According to Kuraev, the recording was made in late December 2024, while Luchenko claims it is from February 11 during a diocesan assembly of the Moscow Metropolis.

In response to Shlyapin, who argued that the Church should prioritize spiritual matters over patriotism, stating “A priest’s duty is to lead people to the Kingdom of Heaven, not to engage in patriotism,” Patriarch Kirill ridiculed him.

“Well, that’s something new! Never heard that before! Father, are you from Western Ukraine by any chance? Go sit down and seriously reflect on what you just blurted out,” Patriarch Kirill said.

On November 4, 2024, Patriarch Kirill suggested the potential implementation of the death penalty in Russia, stating that neither the Church nor Jesus Christ explicitly condemned it.