Russian Orthodox patriarch laments secularization of Christmas, atheism of the elites
January 10, 2014
Downplaying the authentic religious meaning of Christmas is “a very dangerous tendency,” Patriarch Kirill I of Moscow said in an interview with a Russian television station.
“This is a political action, a purposeful act to oust Christian values, including Christian holidays from the lives of people,” he added, according to an Interfax news agency report. “This is spiritual disarmament of the masses.”
Referring to Western Europe, Patriarch Kirill said that “the general political tendency, the general direction of elites is undoubtedly anti-Christian and anti-religious.”
“We have gone through an era of atheism and we want to shout for the whole world to hear: ‘People, stop, we know what kind of life it is.’”
For all current news, visit our News home page.
Further information:
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
-
Posted by: jg23753479 -
Jan. 12, 2014 9:50 AM ET USA
We should all pray for Pope Francis' project of reconciliation with the Orthodox. There is simply too much serious common sense in the East that we are deprived of today thanks to the split.
-
Posted by: AimezLoyaute -
Jan. 10, 2014 4:16 PM ET USA
Thank God for Russian Orthodoxy staying true!
