Putin turning Ukraine into Orthodox religious war against Christ

Kyiv Theological Seminary (KTS) had earlier issued a general warning. “Generating panic through the spread of manipulative false information is exactly what the enemy seeks,” a communications professor wrote on Tuesday. “This war is not as much for our territories, as it is for our soul and our mind.”

That was on Christianity Today. As Russia Invades Ukraine, Pastors Stay to Serve, Pray … and Resist Prayer requests from Donetsk: “First, to stop the aggressor. But then for peace of mind, to respond with Christian character and not from human hate.”
When you think about what Putin has done, remember this. Matthew 25

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

This is not just about democracy and the right of the Ukrainian people to control their own futures, it is about Putin trying to force them to believe the way he wants them to, when he does not even know what a true Christian is supposed to be!

Putin is ‘making it a religious war’

Salt Lake Tribune
By Lew Nescott Jr.
Religion News Service
Feb. 25, 2022

Head of U.S. Ukrainian Orthodox Church slams Russian leader, Moscow Patriarch Kirill “The responsibility is on him and his soul,” Archbishop Daniel says of the Russian president.

(Alexander Zemlianichenko | The Associated Press) Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, left, talks to President Vladimir Putin, right, during the Easter service in the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, April 28, 2019. As Archbishop Daniel, head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, watched his home country endure an invasion at the hands of Russia this week, he found himself waffling between two emotions: shock and devastation.

It’s not that he was surprised by tension between the two countries, which is long-standing. The rifts between Russia and Ukraine even extend to the religious realm: In late 2018 and early 2019, Orthodox Christians in Ukraine declared independence, or autocephaly, from the Orthodox Patriarchate in Russia. The Orthodox Church in Constantinople promptly set about recognizing the independence of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, while Russian Orthodox leaders refused. The result: two opposing Orthodox factions in the country.

But seeing such tensions escalate to the level of armed conflict — with deadly consequences for Ukraine and its people — tore at Archbishop Daniel’s heart.

“I came to the United States of America in 1995, right after the collapse of the Soviet Union,” he said Thursday in an interview for Religion News Service with Lew Nescott Jr., an independent producer covering religion and politics. “I lived through the images of tanks going through Moscow and when the Soviet Union fell.

“Now, 30 years later,” the archbishop said, “I am living through the images of Russian tanks going through the streets, through the sovereign borders of Ukraine.”

I’m asking people of Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Catholic Church and people of goodwill regardless of background to use the weapon of prayer, to soften the heart of the aggressor against Ukrainian people, and to stop the crimes against humanity that we’re experiencing."

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Ukraine Orthodox Church granted independence from Russian Church

BBC
Published 5 January 2019

Ceremonies are taking place in Istanbul to recognise the independence of Ukraine's Orthodox Church from Russia

The Patriarch has signed what is known as a "tomos", a decree officially recognising an independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church, in the presence of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, who travelled to Istanbul for the occasion. Istanbul remained the centre of the Orthodox Church after the Muslim Ottoman Turks occupied the city, then known as Constantinople, in the 15th Century.

The event at St George's cathedral was broadcast live on Ukrainian television.

The tomos will be handed over on Sunday, and brought back to Ukraine on what is the Orthodox Christmas Eve. On Monday - Christmas Day - a celebration and rally will take place in central Kiev.

Upset at losing its Ukrainian parishes, the Russian Orthodox Church - which is the world's largest - has already cut ties with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the spiritual authority of the world's Orthodox church after it recognised the Ukrainian Church's independence.
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Greek Orthodox Church becomes first to recognize Orthodox Church of Ukraine

Ukrainian Weekly
By Alya Shandra/Euromaidan Press

Metropolitan Epifaniy (right) of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine with Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Ieronymos II, president of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece.

The Greek Orthodox Church has essentially recognized the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), which in January was granted autocephaly, or independence, from Moscow by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in a move that angered Russia and caused what some termed the greatest Christian schism since 1054.
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UPDATE
Why does this matter?

Russia’s War on Ukraine Roils the Orthodox Church 2018

By using the Russian Orthodox Church as an instrument of state power in its conflict with Ukraine, the Kremlin galvanized a Ukrainian campaign for independence, or “autocephaly,” for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. It also provided justification for the titular head of global orthodoxy, the ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople, to approve that request.....

Because Constantinople is the ancient seat of the Eastern Orthodox faith, the more than 200 million Orthodox Christians traditionally regard its patriarch as the “first among equals,” and thus the formal leader among the 14 major Orthodox churches. But since the 15th century, the Russian church, as the largest and wealthiest single congregation, has pressed a rival claim to leadership.....

The Kremlin and the Moscow Patriarchate have mounted a diplomatic and disinformation campaign to press the Orthodox patriarchs to question Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s decision and his authority. More aggressive actions are likely to follow. Even if Russia cannot annul Bartholomew’s decision, it will seek to undermine its implementation by swaying opinion, sowing dissension, and instigating conflict. The Associated Press recently documented the invasion of the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s computers by Russian hackers. Meanwhile, an iconic Kyiv church, St. Andrew’s, was attacked with a Molotov cocktail after the government transferred it to the Ecumenical Patriarchate. And Ukrainian authorities are investigating priests for allegedly inciting hatred and violence.....

UPDATE
Local churches shun Vatican's moderate stance on Russia
The head of the Polish bishops’ conference has done what Pope Francis has avoided doing by publicly condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
ABC News
By NICOLE WINFIELD Associated Press
March 5, 2022

ROME -- The head of the Polish bishops’ conference has done what Pope Francis has so far avoided doing: He publicly condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and urged the head of the Russian Orthodox Church to use his influence with Vladimir Putin to demand an end to the war and for Russian soldiers to stand down.

“The time will come to settle these crimes, including before the international courts," Archbishop Stanislaw Gądecki warned in his March 2 letter to Patriarch Kirill. “However, even if someone manages to avoid this human justice, there is a tribunal that cannot be avoided.”

UPDATE

People in Russia risk lives to protest invasion of Ukraine

Hundreds arrested as shocked Russians protest Ukraine attack

Associated Press
By DASHA LITVINOVA

One petition, started by a prominent human rights advocate, Lev Ponomavyov, garnered over 150,000 signatures within several hours and more than 330,000 by the end of the day. More than 250 journalists put their names on an open letter decrying the aggression. Another one was signed by some 250 scientists, while 194 municipal council members in Moscow and other cities signed a third.

MOSCOW (AP) — Shocked Russians turned out by the thousands Thursday to decry their country’s invasion of Ukraine as emotional calls for protests grew on social media. Some 1,745 people in 54 Russian cities were detained, at least 957 of them in Moscow.

Hundreds of posts came pouring in condemning Moscow’s most aggressive actions since the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Vladimir Putin called the attack a “special military operation” to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine from “genocide” — a false claim the U.S. had predicted would be a pretext for invasion, and which many Russians roundly rejected.

Tatyana Usmanova, an opposition activist in Moscow, wrote on Facebook that she thought she was dreaming when she awoke at 5:30 a.m. to the news, which she called “a disgrace that will be forever with us now.”

“I want to ask Ukrainians for forgiveness. We didn’t vote for those who unleashed the war,” she said.
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Global News

Russia Attacked Ukraine

 

CNN Live Updates

Readers of Wounded Times are around the world, including Russia and Ukraine. The people of Ukraine are in my prayers and so are the people of Russia that they open their eyes and see evil for what it is. This is an evil act committed against people who only wanted to determine their own futures peacefully. Most of the world are not blaming you for what your leader decided to do because we know you live in fear of his wrath. The question is, what will stop him when he wants more?

Lifeline Ukraine trying to break stigma of PTSD in veterans

Removing the Stigma: Ukraine Launches Suicide Prevention Hotline for Veterans

Atlantic Council
BY PETER DICKINSON
SEPTEMBER 9, 2019

According to the World Health Organization, Ukraine currently ranks eighth internationally in terms of suicide rates among the population. It is one of a staggering six post-Soviet countries to feature in the global top ten (Lithuania is in first position followed by Russia in second place, Belarus in fifth, Kazakhstan in seventh, and Latvia in ninth). This hints at a vast mental health crisis across the whole of the former USSR, making initiatives like Lifeline Ukraine even more urgent.

Ukrainian veterans take part in the March of Defenders of Ukraine as part of Ukraine's Independence Day celebrations, in Kyiv, Ukraine August 24, 2019. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenk

Autumn 2019 will see the official launch of Lifeline Ukraine, the country’s first professional suicide prevention and mental health support hotline. Recruitment of counselors has focused on Ukraine’s pool of approximately 400,000 combat veterans from the country’s undeclared but ongoing war with Russia. After completing training with international specialists in veteran mental health issues, they will begin working around the clock at the Lifeline Ukraine offices in Kyiv’s Podil district.

The launch of Lifeline Ukraine cannot come too soon. Mental health problems among former military personnel are a major social issue, and one that the country remains ill equipped to address. Prior to the Russian invasion of 2014, post-Soviet Ukraine had no experience of dealing with the trauma of military conflict, or of providing support for those left damaged by war. This was just one of the many ways in which Ukraine was completely unprepared for the onset of Russian aggression. Understandably, the country initially focused attention on defending itself against the immediate military threat, but the accompanying mental health challenges created by the conflict have since made themselves abundantly apparent.

There are no exact figures available for the number of suicides among Ukrainian military personnel and veterans, but experts believe at least 900 have taken their own lives since the start of hostilities five-and-a-half years ago.
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California Air National Guardsman Killed in Ukraine

Update

The Air Force on Wednesday identified the American pilot killed in a crash of a Ukrainian Su-27 aircraft as Lt. Col. Seth “Jethro” Nehring, of the California Air National Guard.

Air Force confirms California guardsman killed in fighter crash in Ukraine

Stars and Stripes

Jennifer H. Svan

October 17, 2018

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany – An Air National Guard member from California was killed along with a Ukrainian servicemember in a Ukrainian Su-27UB fighter crash Tuesday evening in Ukraine during a large-scale military aviation exercise, officials with U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa confirmed Wednesday.

A Sukhoi Su-27 takes off from Starokostiantyniv Air Base, Ukraine, Oct. 9, 2018 as part of the Clear Sky 2018 exercise. CHARLES VAUGHN/AIR NATIONAL GUARD

The U.S. airman was a member of the 144th Fighter Wing, California Air National Guard, based in Fresno, Calif. The airman’s name is being withheld for 24 hours pending next of kin notification, USAFE-AFAFRICA officials said in a statement late Wednesday morning. read more here

US Psychiatrist Takes LSD on Road Trip to Ukraine for PTSD Soldiers

Exclusive Interview: US psychiatrist helps Ukrainian soldiers with new technique
UA Today Ukraine
September 11, 2015

UT explores a non-traditional method of dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder

Ukraine Today is joined by Mr Stanislav Groff, who is a US psychiatrist, known for his extensive research into the effects of LSD on the human psyche. Mr Grof is here, in Ukraine, to help apply some of his methods which include the holotropic breathwork technique, to help Ukrainian troops suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

The psychiatrists could spend 6 hours, 7 hours in the world that some of these patients seem to live in, and be able to understand them better, communicate with them better and hopefully, this would had influence on how successful we would be with therapy.
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Untold story of US Forces on Russia Aircraft in Afghanistan

Untold story of US Forces on Russia Aircraft in Afghanistan
Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
March 26, 2014

Reading news reports from around the world brings puzzling information. I read about US Forces on Russian and Ukraine aircraft for their missions in Afghanistan. The article said that the Pentagon is searching for alternative transportation because of the rift between the US and Russia. It didn't seem possible, so I did some searches and found that the Antonov AN-124 is in fact being used by the US Military.

Military Photos has more pictures of the Antonov AN-124 being used for US Forces in Afghanistan.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Soldiers from 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, Task Force Destiny, pose in the mouth of an Antonov AN-124 cargo plane after loading OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Feb. 8, 2013. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Duncan Brennan, 101st CAB public affairs)

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Soldiers from 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, Task Force Destiny maneuver an OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter into the space between two other Kiowas already loaded onto an Antonov AN-124 cargo plane at Bagram Airield, Afghanistan, Feb. 7, 2013. Loading cargo onto an aircraft is a team effort ensuring the safety of the Soldiers loading the cargo. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Duncan Brennan, 101st CAB public affairs)

As you can see, the story is true. The pictures show the 101st Airborne working in these massive planes. What will happen to them if things come to a head with sanctions? The troops are still in harms way in Afghanistan. What will all of this mean to them and their safety?