War between Ukraine and RussiaFileThe Orthodox leader is one of the outstanding figures of the Russian regime. At the helm of a large fortune, he faces sanctions from the European Commission.
This not very glorious nickname sticks to her tiara. The spiritual leader of 150 million Orthodox believers around the world, Patriarch Kirill, has been given the (ironic) title of “Tobacco Metropolis”. His flirtatious fortune, the ski and watch-loving religious leader, at the head of the Russian Orthodox Church since 2009, built it on the cigarette trade in the ’90s, according to the best experts. And this with the blessing of the Russian authorities and taking advantage of the tax exemptions that the church benefits from. The 75-year-old patriarch Kirill, who belongs to the close circle of prominent figures in the regime, is again threatened with sanctions from the European Commission.
Since the conflict began, the religious leader, whose real name is Vladimir Goundiaev, has made numerous statements of support for the “special operation,” a term the Russian authorities have given to the invasion of Ukraine. On February 27, Kirill summoned a confrontation against the “forces of evil” fighting “the historical unity” between the two countries. On Forgiveness Sunday, March 6, which marks the beginning of Lent in the Orthodox liturgy, he preached a sermon with an apocalyptic tone, invoked spiritual reasons to justify war, and also attacked the organization of gay prides, a symbol in his eyes for the decadence of the West. “What is happening today is not just a question of politics, it’s about saving people,” he announced at the time.
“miracles of god”
Unlike his grandfather, an orthodox priest who suffered from Stalin’s wrath, the patriarch is a pure product of Soviet religious nomenklatura. At the age of 19 he entered the seminary of his native Leningrad (Saint-Petersburg) and four years later became a monk, the prerequisite for ascent in the hierarchy of the Orthodox Churches; Only monks become bishops there. Before taking over as head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department of External Relations in 1989, Metropolitan Kirill is the institution’s representative at the World Council of Churches, based in Geneva, the main world body of Christian churches. Kirill, KGB agent? Given the responsibilities he held before the fall of the Soviet Empire, this is highly likely. His spy code name: “Mikhailov”, according to articles in the Russian press in the 1990s According to recurring reports, the patriarch is the proud owner of a chalet in Switzerland and a luxurious apartment in a posh district of Moscow.
In 2009, Kirill took over as head of the Moscow Patriarchate, succeeding Alexis II. For ten years he has been one of Vladimir Putin’s great frankincense plants, calling him a “miracle of God.” “In the nationalist vision, orthodoxy is the basis of Russian identity, and Putin clearly established a continuity between communism and Christianity. It is also required in the struggle against the West, for example in defending the values of the traditional family,” explains researcher Kathy Rousselet, a specialist in religions in the post-Soviet era.
“Inability to influence the political course”
Even though he has taken up the cause of the war in Ukraine, Patriarch Kirill does not belong to the Kremlin ruler’s direct sphere of influence. According to some experts, he may even have experienced a period of shame after the annexation of Crimea. And competitors would have been ready to drop it. Indeed, another cleric, Metropolitan Tikhon Chevkunov – some people are probably wrong in whispering that he would be Putin’s spiritual leader – plays a major role: he is one of the inventors of the Russian nationalist novel. As a documentary filmmaker, he conceived the exhibition “La Russie, mon histoire”, which toured 23 cities.
“Soviet accounts have been overlaid with nationalist narratives that closely articulate Russian imperial history with that of the Russian Orthodox Church,” continues Kathy Rousselet. The patriarch’s current position on this fratricidal war shows his weakness and inability to influence the political course of Russia. This is also explained by the adherence of some members to Vladimir Putin’s policy. In short, the patriarch is probably an instrument in Putin’s hands. This in no way relieves him of his responsibility. For Yves Hamant, a specialist on Russia, “Kirill risks losing a large part of his authority in the orthodox world by taking up the cause of the aggressor”.