Bishop Irinej of London and Western Europe made a statement on the war in Ukraine on September 15, 2023. This is reported by orthodox-europe.org.

“Noting with regret that some media outlets have persistently misrepresented our views without at any stage attempting to speak to us directly, we reiterate here what we have been saying openly since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine: We are categorically opposed to the war and call for its cessation. I don’t know what could be said more clearly. War is evil. It cannot be justified. God will bless the peacemakers, as the Lord Himself says,” the hierarch said.

According to him, the ROCOR is “against any war, and against this war in particular, just as we are against bloodshed and persecution in any case – no matter who the perpetrator is. We have repeatedly stated that military action in Ukraine is wrong.”

“We have also stated that the persecution of praying Christians on the territory of Ukraine is wrong,” Bishop Irinei noted and added that “love should lead us to compassion and care for every person, without litmus tests for nationality, ethnicity or political agenda.”

The bishop stressed that ROCOR “is not united with any state, is not affiliated with any government, does not bow to or adhere to any political program. Claims to the contrary may arise out of ignorance or as a result of willful misrepresentation, but in any case they are false. This must mean and signify that we can freely and without restraint bear the responsibility entrusted to us: to speak out against evil whenever it appears and by whose hands it is perpetrated.”