Can Christians kill Christians?
Fr. Sergiy Baranov, a ROC priest, who became famous for his talks on the Jesus Prayer, gave a big interview about his stance on the "SMO". Let's analyse his main theses.
Not so long ago, the name of Archpriest Sergiy Baranov, the secretary of the Orsk Diocese and the spiritual father of the Iveron Convent, was unknown to a wide audience. His really good sermons were getting on average 5-10 thousand views on YouTube, which is not so much, compared to such preachers as Archpriest Andrey Tkachev, Archimandrite Savva (Mazhuko), or Priest Pavel Ostrovsky. This is not surprising, because Father Sergiy spoke exclusively on spiritual topics, such as fasting, the Jesus Prayer, saints, love, piety, and sins.
But suddenly, overnight, the priest "lit up" on many information platforms of the neighboring country. And not at all because of a surge of interest in the Jesus Prayer, but because of the "Special Military Operation" ("SMO"). Father Sergiy began to speak in defense of Russia's military actions on the territory of Ukraine, thereby attracting close attention to his person not only from those who support the war, but also from those who are against it, that is, us. Why, you might ask, are we interested in Father Sergiy's opinion on this topic? Because we considered him a person for whom life with Christ is the most important. Because it hurts us to see how instead of seeking God-communion, he began to deal with political issues. Finally, because the ROC priest's position is the template position of all those in the Russian Orthodox Church who are trying to morally justify what is happening.
For this reason, we decided to pay attention to Father Sergei's recent appearances and analyze his interview, which has already garnered tens of thousands of views on various platforms in just a few days. It is called "SMO" ("Special Military Operation" – Ed.). Whose side is the truth on? An important conversation with Father Sergiy Baranov. Minsk", which is published on the YouTube channel "Fly high. Studio of Archpriest Sergiy Baranov". We also invite you to understand what is happening in the minds of basically good people. So, here we are.
Why is the Church silent?
The very title of the interview should tell the viewer that Fr. Sergiy definitely knows "whose side the truth is on". And the priest begins his reasoning immediately in black-and-white categories, arrogating to himself the right to unequivocally determine in discussion topics where good and evil lie, and to act as a judge.
But for a spiritual person to be a judge in matters of geopolitics and politics means knowingly stepping onto a slippery path. And sadly, in Father Sergei's interview, we encounter numerous examples of distortion of the truth.
When asked if a Christian in a civil war can remain neutral and pray for peace, Fr. Sergiy says that "this may not always work."
"When there is a war, and a woman, a child is being killed in front of you, can you be a neutral person? Or when God's commandments are being violated, being a neutral person is even mean," claims the priest, referring to the military actions in Donbas before February 24, 2022.
Yes, during the armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine, as of March 30, 2022, 117 children have been killed. This is a lot. But since Russia started bombing Ukraine, at least five times more have been killed. Why does the priest manage to remain "neutral" towards these deaths? And can a Christian justify one set of killings of women and children by pointing out that the other side also committed such killings? Is this the law of blood revenge?
And if the priest talks about violations of God's commandments, he certainly means Ukraine. But is there really no such violations in Fr. Sergiy's homeland?
We do not encounter condemnatory speeches from the clergy or ordinary priests about the problems that undoubtedly exist in the Russian state. And if we do, very soon these servants of the Church turn out to be "foreign agents" or receive real prison sentences. For example, Priest Ioann Kurmoyarov dared to object to Russian President Putin regarding the statement of whether those who started the war against Ukraine would enter paradise. The result? Defrocked "for unreliable information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation" and three years in prison. Did anyone from the Church's figures speak out in support of Father Ioann? No. Because, presumably, in their understanding, to unjustly condemn a person is not a violation of God's commandment.
"Where was the UOC for 8 years?"
Fr. Sergiy recalls the words of Metropolitan Onuphry, who on the first day of the war compared Russia's actions against Ukraine to the sin of Cain, and poses a question that we have answered a thousand times: "Where was the UOC all these eight years?" We are accustomed to the Church being asked this question by those who either are not interested in the situation in Ukraine or those who deliberately distort reality. Because starting from 2014, the UOC has maintained a clearly defined and repeatedly voiced peacemaking position. Let us remind Father Sergei, for example, of the statement by Metropolitan Antoniy (Pakanych): "The suffering of Eastern Ukraine is the suffering of all Ukrainian society. We cannot stand aside from the problems... We must do everything to end this slaughter as soon as possible." This was said back in 2017.
And here are the words of Metropolitan Onuphry from his interview with the UOJ in 2015: "If we specifically talk about the war now raging in the East, I would like to point out the essence of this war. This is a war – civil... It is a fratricidal war. And therefore, the Church, as after the revolution of 1917, now calls for reconciliation, forgiveness... The Church calls on people to find the strength to forgive each other, to stop killing each other. This is the position of our Church not from today, it has been maintained since 1917, it was such in other times when there were wars, when our princes, who rebelled under St. Prince Vladimir, killed brothers – Svyatopolk, then others. And in those times, our Church, the canonical Church, called for forgiveness to each other. For this, monks were expelled, bishops, they hated us, and then understood that we were right, and reconciled. So I think we will be understood in the current situation."
But where were you for 8 years?
Did Fr. Sergiy not know about these words of His Beatitude? He probably did, but forgot. Just as he forgot about the action of Metropolitan Onuphry in the Verkhovna Rada on May 8, 2015. Let us remind you that he then refused to honor the heroes of the ATO, explaining his position by not accepting war as a phenomenon. Did Patriarch or any of the hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church do something similar? No. Then why doesn't it concern the ROC priest, since the war is civil?
On the other hand, the priest, recalling "where were you for 8 years," is shy to ask the same question to the leadership of his own state. Because throughout this time, the Russian authorities were in business and partnership relations with the Ukrainian leadership. Putin was quite friendly with Poroshenko (the latter's wiretapped words "shake your hands and embrace you", addressed to the Russian president, got viral on Ukrainian social platforms), trade volumes between the states increased, diplomatic relations continued. In words, one thing was said, but in reality, the transit of gas and ammonia through the territory of Ukraine was being carried out. And during this time, residents of Donbas were dying and suffering. Were there any resonant addresses from the ROC about this? We can hardly recall any.
During the same period, due to its position on the war in Donbas, the UOC was subjected to intense pressure and harassment from the Ukrainian authorities. Once again: the Russian authorities were in working and business relations with the Ukrainian authorities, and the UOC suffered because it called for peace between the conflict parties. So, if the question "where were you for 8 years?" is to be asked, then definitely not to the UOC.
Fr. Sergiy goes on to discuss who started this war. But even on this question, the answer will not be in favor of Russia. Because if Girkin's squads had not come to Slaviansk, there would never have been this war. If these squads had not received financing from the Russian state, there would have been no "uprisings" in Donbas. On the other hand, if we consider that the post-Maidan government in Ukraine is illegitimate, as the priest claims, then why did the RF leadership recognize it? After all, by recognizing the power of Maidan, the Russian Federation, in fact, recognized the legitimacy of military actions in Donbas and even pushed for them.
Who is better at lying?
Fr. Sergiy then talks at length about deception, about how there are "evil people who are always trying to deceive Russia." He recalls Putin's words, who, when asked what he would say to himself in 2000, replied: "Do not trust anyone." The priest continued, saying that Western politicians are very deceitful because they "shake hands, say everything is fine, and then deceive." So, we want to remind the priest of the words of some Russian politicians, his compatriots.
For example, here is a statement from Peskov on February 20, 2022: "Russia, which has survived so many wars, is the last country in Europe that even wants to utter the word 'war'."
And here is a statement from the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on February 18, 2022: "Reports of an alleged impending attack by Russia on Ukraine do not correspond to reality... I am sure that anyone even slightly interested in foreign policy has seen that all of this is propaganda, fakes, and fabrications. The main thing is that the authors of these fakes themselves believe in what they say. They like it."
And here are the words of Maria Zakharova, commenting on statements from the Western press about Russia preparing for war in Ukraine on February 11, 2022: "The hysteria of the White House is more telling than ever. The Anglo-Saxons need war. At any cost. Provocations, disinformation, and threats are their favorite method of solving their own problems... And the propaganda brigade led by Bloomberg serves all this."
Well, Putin himself lied about his country's intentions regarding Ukraine. For example, here's what he said on February 8 during a meeting with French President Macron: "The movement of our troops on our own, I want to emphasize, territory is presented as a threat of Russian invasion – in this case, into Ukraine. Allegedly, the Baltic countries and other neighboring states feel themselves in danger. On what basis – it is not very clear."
Now it's clear. But why talk about the lies of some and the crystal-clear conscience of others is still not clear.
Tanks and the 'Collective West'
Only bewilderment can be caused by the words of a priest who laments that in the 90s, Russia was "scrapping its tanks and ships, while Western society was increasing its power." And here, the question is not even about the fact that Russia's weapons production volume is comparable to the "arms" scale of the entire "Western world" combined, but rather that a Orthodox priest is talking about this.
Furthermore, he says that "Russia is not fighting with Ukraine, but with the Western world, which is simply using Ukraine to wage war against Russia." It is worth reminding that, while fighting with the "Western world", Russia drops bombs not on Berlin or Washington, but on Kharkiv and Odesa. In other words, while "defending the interests of Russian-speaking citizens", Russia bombs Russian-speaking cities in Ukraine, and in a short time has done as much for "anti-Russian propaganda" as Ukrainian nationalists failed to do in 30 years of the country's existence.
Loyalty and Canons
Next, Fr. Sergiy accuses the UOC of being "too loyal to the Ukrainian government", and it is for this reason that it is "separating" from the ROC", "violating canons."
Firstly, the UOC did not violate any canons. We have already written a lot about the so-called violation of Rule 15, for example, in this article or in this one. Secondly, if our Church were truly loyal to the authorities, it would probably comply with the demands of the authorities. These demands are known and have been voiced repeatedly by representatives of the state. For example, the head of the NSDC, Danilov, demanded that the UOC call Patriarch Kirill Satan and "officially renounce" him. But the main thing that the authorities demand from all the bishops of the UOC is to unite with the OCU. Moreover, these "demands" have already resulted in criminal cases against several hierarchs in practice. And law enforcement officers directly tell them – if you want a peaceful life, go to Epifaniy. And it's unnecessary to talk about what is happening in the regions with ordinary priests and believers. These people are already practically confessors.
And the steps of the UOC towards independence from the ROC are not "loyalty" to the authorities, but an internal need to separate itself from what is unacceptable from the standpoint of Christian morality and the Gospel.
Moreover, immediately after talking about the "violation of canons" by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Father Sergey talks about how in the 20s and 30s of the last century, the ROC was forced to show loyalty to the Soviet authorities.
"But this did not stop the government's desire to destroy the Church," he says and admires that at the beginning of the war in 1941, the "humiliated, impoverished, and almost destroyed Church stood up for the defense of the Motherland." It is incomprehensible how one cannot notice parallels with the UOC in this case. It is worth reminding that Hitler came to Soviet Russia as a "liberator" from the Bolsheviks. He was sure that Soviet citizens should accept his army with open arms, and sincerely wondered when he encountered fierce resistance from the peaceful population. After all, his warriors fought under slogans: "God is with us," and they opened Orthodox churches in the occupied territories.
"SMO" brought Russians to faith?
Equally strange is Fr. Sergiy's joy at the changes within Russian society brought about by war: "Thank God that something is happening in our society, and that thanks to the war, it has become clear who is a patriot and who is not."
Can one imagine such a statement coming from the early Christians, who, seeing how Roman legions attacked those whom they considered enemies of the empire, proclaimed, "Praise God that thanks to this war, it is clear who the true patriots are"? No, such a thought is untenable. Because Christians always spoke about being citizens of Heaven, and one of the accusations against Christians, for which they suffered and were persecuted, thrown to the beasts, and crucified, was precisely that they were not considered patriots.
Moreover, the Church from its very first day of existence was a stumbling block for "patriots". Let's remember - the Jews accused Christ and the apostles of breaking the traditions of Jewish society, disrespecting the "traditions of the elders", and associating "to eat and drink" with those whom the Jews considered their enemies. But even the pagans could not call Christians patriots – Christians did not worship the emperor as a "god", did not want to participate in state celebrations if such participation involved sacrifice. In the understanding of the early Christians, "patriotism" was a striving towards the Heavenly Father, not towards the earthly. Unfortunately, this understanding is practically lost today.
The Russian priest recounts being "pleasantly surprised" when he visited the Vishnevsky hospital in Moscow and saw "guys from the front lines – without arms, without legs, but who treated the priest well." Remembering a video of Russian stormtroopers praying before an attack, he stated that none of this would have happened without the war. It turns out that war has had a positive impact on people's religious consciousness.
However, can it be said that Russian society has become Orthodox because of the "special military operation"? No, it cannot. In 2024, there was a record low number of parishioners in Russian churches for Christmas, that's first. Secondly, praying before battle does not necessarily mean that a person has consciously come to faith. A soldier facing death is ready to turn to any higher power just to stay alive. And if instead of an Orthodox priest, a minister of some other religion came to the non-religious people at the front, the result would hardly be different.
What to do with the "rabid dog"?
It's hardly surprising that all the thoughts expressed by Fr. Sergiy lead him to believe that killing "Nazis" is normal. He says that Russian soldiers simply take mobilized Ukrainians as prisoners of war and "don't torture" them, whereas "Nazis" are destroyed. The first thought after these words is: how do Russians determine the political views of the enemy when taking them prisoner or not? Do they scan the minds of Ukrainians from a distance? But the ROC priest is not troubled by such doubts. He utters a remarkable phrase: "They don't take a rabid dog (meaning 'Nazis') as prisoners. There's no need to torture it, but trying to re-educate... (is useless)."
So, according to the priest, Ukrainians whom Russians consider "Nazis" should be killed like dogs.
However, Fr. Sergiy's words have nothing to do with the Gospel. After all, Christ directly said that He came not to save the righteous, but sinners. He addressed people who were at the lowest rungs of the social ladder in the Roman Empire, and compared a Canaanite woman to the same "dog". But Christ's attitude towards these "dogs" is not at all like Fr. Sergiy's. He speaks to thieves, robbers, adulterers, and always hopes that even the worst person can be changed and brought to repentance. Even on the cross, He does not abandon this hope and promises the Kingdom of Heaven to the robber.
Father Sergiy's words ("there's no need to torture it, but trying to re-educate is useless") are anti-Christian words, the ones that decimate the Cross and Resurrection of Christ. Even more: for an Orthodox Christian to say that someone should or can be killed like rabid dogs is barbarism and inhumanity. Hitler also believed that there were "rabid dogs" in the world and shot them, gassed them, and crushed them with tanks.
We know nothing about the views of the Ukrainian "Nazis" who were shot (or otherwise killed) by Russian soldiers. But it's hardly debatable that the Russian priest's statement is eerily reminiscent of Nazi ideology.
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At the end of the interview, Fr. Sergiy says that he "does not like" war and would not want to be "misunderstood". But in fact, the priest's entire conversation, to our great regret, is a true justification for war. He claims that it is uncomfortable for a clergyman to be at the front line because he has no weapon. But the words of a clergyman are much worse than a gun. Because propaganda is weaponized so as to push for the killings of thousands of people who watch such interviews and think – if a priest said it's okay to go to war, then it must be okay. By promoting war, the priest does not even stop at the dirtiest tricks. For example, he talks about a priest who was allegedly burned alive on a cross by "Ukrainian Nazis". But he does not mention the name or surname of this priest. Yet, if this really happened, the resonance would be unprecedented.
And in the end, when he says that the time will come, and Ukrainians will definitely reconcile with Russians, as it happened in Russia after the Chechen war with the Chechens, one can't help but think that this will happen not thanks to, but in spite of such interviews. One feels like saying just one thing to Fr. Sergiy: dear father, you should not delve into politics. Do not ruin yourself, do not squander everything you have collected for so long.
