Russian Orthodox Church Claims it Can Show the Way for Europe, Others Believe it Has Sold Out

Patriarchate of Moscow

A top cleric of the Russian Orthodox Church, Vsevolod Chaplin (who has been and still may be its official spokesman), made the news for some bold comments:

West has betrayed Christianity, Russia will save it – Orthodox Church official

14 May 2012

Our Orthodox civilization may not be that large, but today it has a key role in the world as it knows how to find a way to a better life for the whole world and especially Europe,”Chaplin said on Monday during a videoconference between Moscow, Kiev and Minsk.The West has betrayed the ideals of Christianity, which Emperors Constantine and Justinian merged with Roman law, Chaplin says. In his opinion, the Europe, which was based on these principles, no longer exists.

Bearing this in mind, the Eastern Christian civilization should not follow in the steps of either the “weak-willed West” or the “intellectually weak East, ” he says. http://rt.com/politics/christianity-russia-orthodox-church-205/

Although Vsevolod Chaplin has some points about not following the weak-willed West” or the “intellectually weak East,” the Russian Orthodox has its own issues and is not promoting biblically-based Christianity. It should also be noted that Emperors Constantine and Justinian were murderous and compromising leaders and did not hold to the values that Jesus established for His Church (see also Military Service and the Churches of God: Do Real Christians Participate in Carnal Warfare?). Emperor Constantine himself was a follower of the sun-god Mithras and attempted to blend that religion in with the Greco-Roman one (see also Do You Practice Mithraism?). The Catholic scholar Aiken noted that “Mithraism was first and foremost a military cult” (Aiken C.F., Mithraism, p. 255)

As far as the current Russian Orthodox Church, several have voiced other concerns about it and its top leader, Patriarch Kirill:

Critics of Russian Orthodox Church say it’s sold its soul to Putin

May 13, 2012…Kirill himself is a focus of the growing opposition to the church.

The patriarch’s reputation has been tarnished by a pair of scandals involving a $38,832 Breguet watch he was seen wearing and a court case in which he sought $630,000 from a cancer-stricken neighbor — despite his monastic vows not to have any worldly possessions while serving the church.

And just as Putin is supported by gangs of youth thugs who intimidate his opponents, the church enjoys the backing of its own roaming enforcers of orthodoxy — tacitly approved of by church leaders…

Political analyst Stanislav Belkovsky said the church has turned into the Kremlin’s “Salvation Ministry,” obediently approving Kremlin policies and slamming Western democracy as concepts alien to Russian traditions — all the while enjoying hefty government donations and tax immunity.

“The church inherited its full loyalty to the existing government from Soviet times,” Belkovsky said. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2018204136_russiachurch14.html

The Russian Orthodox Church, through leaders such as Patriarch Kirill, has supported Vladimir Putin. And it supported Vladimir Putin when many Russians were turning against him. Vladimir Putin once again took the office of President of Russia on May 7, 2012 and partially has the Russian Orthodox Church and specifically its Patriarch Kirill to credit for assisting with some issues that possibly could have complicated, if not possibly prevented, his “re-election.”

I have covered Patriarch Kirill for years (see New Russian Orthodox Patriarch, Russian Orthodox Leader Urges No Compromise With Catholics, and Russian Orthodox and Vatican Closer to Ending Rift). I believe he has a keen interest in politics and ecumenical matters.

Despite calls that Europe somehow needs the Russian Orthodox Church, it truly instead needs to practice the original biblical Christian faith, which the true Church of God strives to do. Yet, prophecy suggests that more in Europe will be inclined towards a compromised Greco-Roman faith that will be sort of a compromise between many highly tradition-based faiths, like the Russian Orthodox and others.

And related to this, for a while, I believe that the Russian Orthodox Church will support, at least to a degree, the ecumenical religion that the Vatican will change into. But, ultimately, the Russian Orthodox Church will turn against that and likely encourage the Russian leadership later in the 21st century to turn against what will have risen up in Europe.

Those interested in learning more may wish to study the following articles:

Russia: Its Origins and Prophesied Future Russia in prophecy. Where do the Russians come from? What about those in the Ukraine? What is prophesied for Russia and its allies? What will they do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end?
Is Russia the King of the North? Some claim it is. But what does the Bible teach?
Military Service and the Churches of God: Do Real Christians Participate in Carnal Warfare? Here are current and historical perspectives on a matter which show the beliefs of the true church on military participation. Is war proper for Christians?
Why Should American Catholics Should Fear Unity with the Orthodox? Are the current ecumenical meetings a good thing or will they result in disaster?
Some Similarities and Differences Between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Genuine Church of God Both claim to be the original church, but both have differing ways to claim it. Both groups have some amazing similarities and some major differences. Do you know what they are?
Orthodox Must Reject Unity with the Roman Catholics as unifying will make them part of the final end time Babylon (according to both biblical and Roman Catholic prophecy).
Europa, the Beast, and the Book of Revelation discusses the largest church since the second/third century, which in a real sense is the eighth church mentioned in the Book of Revelation (it also endorses “eighth day” worship). What church would support the Beast?
Tradition and Scripture: From the Bible and Church Writings Are traditions on equal par with scripture? Many believe that is what Peter, John, and Paul taught. But did they?
Do You Practice Mithraism? Many practices and doctrines that mainstream so-called Christian groups have are the same or similar to those of the sun-god Mithras. December 25th was celebrated as his birthday. Do you follow Mithraism combined with the Bible or original Christianity?
The History of Early Christianity Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church? Do you know where the early church was based? Do you know what were the doctrines of the early church? Is your faith really based upon the truth or compromise?