On March 9, 2022, the head of the Western European Archdiocese of Orthodox parishes of Russian tradition, Metropolitan John (Renneto) of Dubna, addressed an open letter to Patriarch Kirill of Moscow.
“In these dark days, when a war is unleashed in the center of Europe as a result of the intervention of the Russian Federation in Ukraine, let His Holiness Vladyka express to you the concern of our entire Archdiocese, as well as our full solidarity with the victims of the conflict.
The turmoil and horror caused around the world by the brutal attack of the Russian Federation on Ukraine has not bypassed the Orthodox community of Western Europe and, in particular, our Archdiocese, uniting believers of different origins. The situation that has been created threatens our unity. The believers of the Archdiocese expect their pastors to bring them the voice of the Church and the gospel message of peace.
We learned with a feeling of dismay that members of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church appealed to you with a request to appeal to the authorities of the Russian Federation so that they put an end to the bloody war.
On behalf of all the faithful of our Archdiocese, I appeal to you to raise your primatial voice as the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church against the monstrous and senseless war and to intercede with the authorities of the Russian Federation so that they end the fratricidal conflict between the two peoples and two countries, which until recently seemed impossible , united by centuries of history and common faith in Christ.
Your Holiness, in your “sermon” on Forgiveness Sunday, delivered at the Patriarchal Cathedral of Christ the Savior on March 6, you make it clear that there is a justification for this bloody, aggressive war, that this is a “metaphysical struggle” in the name of “the right to stand on the side of the world, on the side of God’s truth, on the side of what is revealed to us by the light of Christ, His Word, His Gospel … “.
With all due respect to you, of which I assure you again, Your Holiness, but also with infinite pain, I cannot but bring to your attention that I cannot agree with such a reading of the Gospel. Under no circumstances can the “good shepherd” that we are supposed to be not be a “peacemaker.”
Your Holiness, humbly, with a heavy heart, I beg you to do everything possible to put an end to this horrific war that has divided the world and sows death and destruction,” writes Metropolitan John.
