Russian President Vladimir Putin met with the head of the Orthodox Church on Tuesday to present him with crosses and icons intended for the leaders of the Russian armies for Christmas.
Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Patriarch Kirill on Tuesday for a ceremony to bless gifts from Russian army commanders.
Crosses and icons blessed by the head of the Russian Orthodox Church
The head of the Russian Orthodox Church sprinkled crosses and icons intended for the leaders of the Russian armies, on the occasion of the Feast of the Nativity, celebrated on January 7 by Orthodox Christians.
After the reading of a prayer by the Patriarch and the blessing of the gifts, Vladimir Putin said he was convinced of the happiness of the army leaders upon receiving these symbols of faith.
Split within the Orthodox Church
The war in Ukraine has caused a split within the Orthodox Church.
In 2022, the Moscow branch of the Ukrainian Church decided to break with Russiaafter Patriarch Kirill openly spoke out in favor of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
A measure which did not prevent the adoption by kyiv of a law aimed at restricting its activities in Ukraine and moving the date of the Christmas celebration to December 25 for the Orthodox attached to the Ukrainian Church.
