45 stories found
A recent survey reveals that 80% of Ukrainians favor cutting religious connections with the Russian Orthodox Church, highlighting how Russia’s full-scale invasion has fundamentally transformed spiritual life and national identity in Ukraine.
A senior researcher suggests that the infiltration of the Danish People's Party by a group linked to the Russian Orthodox Church, which was subsequently expelled, may not be coincidental, though the party denies having an internal problem.
The Russian Orthodox Church has announced the discovery of the relics of medieval Prince Dmitry Donskoy, who famously led the Rus to victory over the Mongol Golden Horde in 1380, at the Kremlin’s Archangel Cathedral.
Patriarch Kirill of Moscow has honored Bishop Aleksij of Vienna with the Order of Saint Seraphim, recognizing his diligent archiepiscopal work as head of the Russian Orthodox Church in Austria since 2020.
Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, and the founder of Lukoil have reportedly been excluded from the European Union's 21st draft package of sanctions against Russia. This marks a potential reprieve for the religious leader from EU restrictions.
The Russian Orthodox Church plans to seek leniency for Ksenia Belousova, who was sentenced to over three years in prison for offending religious believers with an 'Easter Cake Hookah' incident.
Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, is reportedly included in the latest EU sanctions proposal against Russia, following a shift in Hungary's stance.
The Russian Orthodox Church has launched an initiative, 'Patriarchal Humanitarian Mission: Together we help people in Donbas,' encouraging faithful Russians to volunteer in occupied Ukrainian territories.
The European Union has unveiled a new 'Tech Sovereignty' package aimed at boosting domestic production in AI, semiconductors, and cloud computing. This initiative seeks to reduce the EU's dependence on American and Chinese technology and enhance its digital autonomy.
How the Russian Orthodox Church targets anti-war priests LRT
The Russian Foreign Ministry has accused Czech authorities of targeted provocation and fabricated proceedings following the arrest of Russian Orthodox Church leader Metropolitan Hilarion in the Czech Republic on suspicion of possessing drug-like substances.
The Russian Orthodox Church has advised citizens not to worry about internet outages but instead to reflect on the immortality of the soul.
Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church, known for his support of the Kremlin and Vladimir Putin, wants businessmen to be 'responsible before God'.
A community of Old Believers, descendants of a schism in the Russian Orthodox Church, has clandestinely settled in the Chernobyl exclusion zone, restoring an 18th-century church built by their ancestors.
A new book, 'Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing,' alleges that the Russian Orthodox Church acts in tandem with the Russian state to promote Moscow's global agenda, using faith as an instrument of espionage against the 'satanic' West.
A book titled 'With Good Intentions' by Russian journalist Ksenia Lutschenko, who was sentenced to eight years in a labor camp in absentia and lives in exile, examines the relationship between the Russian Orthodox Church and Vladimir Putin.
The Danish Youth Union (DFU) has expelled 11 members who were suspected of infiltration and had ties to the Russian Orthodox Church, after they were elected as local chairmen.
The head of the Russian Orthodox Church has praised the country's nuclear weapons as 'God's mercy,' drawing strong condemnation from Archbishop Elia, who leads the Finnish Orthodox Church. Elia stated that theology in Russia has been co-opted to serve state objectives.
An investigation by the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Affairs and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) concluded that the Pochaiv Holy Dormition Lavra shows signs of affiliation with the Russian Orthodox Church. This finding identifies the religious organization as foreign.
The Russian Orthodox Church is increasingly seen as a key instrument for Moscow's geopolitical penetration and influence in regions where the Russian state seeks a greater presence, serving as a central axis for understanding Russia's power strategy.
Bulgaria has stated it will oppose new EU sanctions against Russia if they target Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church or impose restrictions on Lukoil. The country argues that such measures would create a favorable environment for anti-European propaganda.
The European Union is tackling various issues, including a significant housing deficit across member states and streamlining defense procurement processes. Additionally, the EU is enforcing digital market regulations, such as ordering Meta to open WhatsApp to rival AI chatbots.
Metropolitan Hilarion was transferred to Brazil by the Russian Orthodox Church after Czech police reportedly found cocaine in his car. Police confirmed the white powder discovered was indeed cocaine.
Metropolitan Ilarion of the Russian Orthodox Church, recently returned to Moscow after being detained in the Czech Republic, told TASS that Czech media depicted him as a Russian secret agent.
The Russian Orthodox Church is reportedly persecuting priests in foreign countries, including Vilnius, for refusing to support the war in Ukraine, according to Lithuanian public media.
A prominent Russian Orthodox cleric, Metropolitan Hilarion, was detained by Czech police after a suspicious white substance was found in his car. Hilarion denies any connection to the substance, while Russia has called the incident a targeted provocation and summoned the Czech ambassador.
The question of whether Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill, who blesses the war in Ukraine and calls Putin a miracle of God, can now be blacklisted by the EU arises as Hungary gets a new leader, potentially removing Viktor Orbán's protection.
The director of the Hermitage Museum, Mikhail Piotrovsky, defended the transfer of religious relics from Russian museums to the Russian Orthodox Church, stating that ritual significance now outweighs artistic value in Russian society.
The Russian Orthodox Church is increasing its presence in Africa, which experts view as a strategic move to exert ideological soft power.
The Russian Orthodox Church's exarchate in Africa is reportedly involved in a scheme to recruit Kenyan citizens to fight in Ukraine, according to investigative reports.
The remains of Grand Prince Dmitry Donskoy, a 14th-century Russian hero, have been exhumed from the Kremlin Cathedral with Vladimir Putin's blessing. The Russian Orthodox Church and lawmakers are advocating for these relics to be sent to the front lines in Ukraine to boost morale.
Experts are raising alarms after a group of 11 young men with ties to the Russian Orthodox Church allegedly "infiltrated" Dansk Folkepartis Ungdom (Danish People's Party Youth) and took over two local chapters. Concerns are being voiced about a potential Russian influence attempt.
Ukraine's State Service for Ethnic Affairs and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) will issue an order to the Pochaiv Lavra monastery, requiring it to sever its connections with the Russian Orthodox Church, which is banned in Ukraine.
Bulgarian Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova confirmed that the names of Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill and Lukoil owner Vagit Alekperov have been removed from the EU's 21st package of sanctions against Russia, potentially allowing Bulgaria to support the new sanctions.
A pro-Russian Orthodox church in Belgium has suffered a legal defeat, with the Brussels Court of Appeal ruling that it must return the keys to a historic Orthodox chapel to the Romanian Orthodox tendency.
The Liberal Party in Moldova has urged parliament to adopt a law that would compel the Metropolis of Moldova to break its ties with the Russian Orthodox Church, a move that has drawn reactions from the church and deputies.
The Russian Orthodox Church has forwarded a new initiative to its eparchies, encouraging people to volunteer in the occupied territories of Ukraine.
Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church has reassigned Metropolitan Hilarion, who was recently suspected of drug smuggling in the Czech Republic, to the Argentine and South American Diocese, specifically to backcountry parishes in Brazil.
Metropolitan Hilarion of the Russian Orthodox Church has left the Czech Republic for Moscow to inform Patriarch Kirill and relevant authorities about his situation.
Czech police detained and later released a Russian bishop after suspected drugs were found in his car. The incident occurred amidst other news in the Czech Republic, including a record lottery win and ongoing heatwaves.
Reports indicate that the European Union's 21st sanctions package against Russia may include high-level representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church, notably Patriarch Kirill.
A controversial archimandrite from the Russian Orthodox Church is scheduled to deliver a presentation at an international conference in Vilnius, with some planned speeches aimed at justifying the affiliation of Orthodox parishes in Lithuania with the Moscow Patriarchate.
President Vladimir Putin has reportedly ordered the transfer of the Vladimir and Donskaya icons of the Mother of God from the Tretyakov Gallery to the Russian Orthodox Church, according to Patriarch Kirill.
Russia is strengthening its geopolitical influence in Africa by establishing 350 Russian Orthodox Church parishes since 2022, a move experts view as more about geopolitics than religion.
Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, awarded the Order of the Holy Prince Daniel of Moscow, Second Degree, to Vadim Krasnoselski, the leader of the Transnistrian regime, on February 19, 2026.