I always ask the same question when war or terror breaks out – where are the holy men?
Pope Francis seems to be the only religious leader who gets media attention if he calls for an end to violence. This week he urged Vladimir Putin: “In the name of God, I ask you: Stop this massacre!”
We hear very little of what other religious leaders are saying about this war in Ukraine. Here’s what the Russian Orthodox patriarch Kirill of Moscow has said on the subject: “As patriarch of all Russia and primate of this Church, whose flock is in Russia, Ukraine, and other countries, I deeply sympathize with all those who have been affected by the misfortune…” And his only prayer, “to do everything possible to avoid civilian casualties.” [emphasis added]
How many of us are aware of the religious angle to Putin’s “crusade” in Ukraine? The NYTimes laid it out in a piece about, well, Italy last week. In Bari, region of Apulia, lies the tomb of St. Nicholas, the inspiration for Santa Claus. St. Nick wasn’t Italian, actually a legendary Greek bishop, but his remains were stolen from present-day Turkey by Italian sailors a thousand years ago. He was known for charity toward children and as a protector of seafarers. The people of Bari erected the Basilica di San Nicola to honor his remains, which has been a pilgrimage site for Catholic and Orthodox travelers for centuries. In fact, communities of Orthodox Russians and Ukrainians have settled in Bari. In 2007, Putin went to Italy and knelt at the tomb. Today, Russian and Ukrainian ex-pats reflect the loyalties and emotions of their homelands – not a friendly consensus.
The Times article went on to explain how the Orthodox churches of Ukraine and Russia were once united under Moscow’s Patriarch Kirill until 2019, upending centuries of unity. No doubt this schism was exacerbated by Putin’s seizure of Crimea in 2014. But, when Putin speaks of past Russian-Ukrainian unity he isn’t making that up. His namesake, Grand Prince Vladimir brought a unified Orthodox Christianity to Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine back in 988 A.D. In fact, the St. Volodymyr (Vladimir) Cathedral in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv is dedicated to that Russian grand prince and saint.
Putin may outwardly blame his invasion of Ukraine on the encroachment of NATO and U.S. political shenanigans there, but there is a religious fervor in his motives. He was once a card-carrying godless Communist, but now fancies himself a defender of the Orthodox faith. Patriarch Kirill is certainly cheering on Putin’s armed “restoration” of his Ukrainian flock. His words quoted above leave little hope that he is a holy peacemaker.
It is often thought that the Cross follows the Sword – conversion is a means of pacification. However, so much of history begins with the Cross, or the Star of David, or the Crescent and is followed by the Sword. Columbus came to barter with and convert the indigenous peoples of the Indies – Cortez and Pizarro followed. Abraham was ‘promised’ the land of the Canaanites – Joshua took it forcefully. Mohammad proclaimed the mercy of Allah – but his warriors spread their version on horseback right into the heart of Christian Europe.
Benito Mussolini often proclaimed himself Protector of Islam. He even posed for a photo on horseback holding a broad sword aloft while in Libya. His motive was to sow Arab unrest in British Egypt and Palestine where the Muslim populations were aching to eject their Anglo occupiers. Eventually, the Sunni Arabs rid themselves of both Italian and British Christians, only to find Jews and Iranian Shi’ites replacing them. And the beat goes on.
It doesn’t seem to matter what century we are in, or how progressive the times. Nostalgia for past glory and fanatical theology still hold sway over human emotions.
This week marks the anniversary of Italy’s reunification in 1861 (March 17th). A great opponent of that quest was the Catholic Church under Pope Pius IX. He couldn’t let go of a once glorious papal Italy. It wasn’t until 1929 that a Pope finally gave up his claim to Rome and accepted an independent Vatican City – divine guidance or Mussolini’s diplomacy?
If Putin actually believes his ‘reunification’ with Ukraine has the blessing of ole St. Nick, then God help us! -JLM
Am finding it hard to even watch all the suffering and slaughter that modern warfare can unleash upon humanity. While technology is neutral, in the hands of tyrants is just pure evil. I just read of a Russian news reporter who went on the screen of Russian State TV to protest the slaughter as a tragic nightmare. What a profile in courage, at the same time she basically signed her death warrant. Sometimes we in the USA take our freedoms so lightly, including a free press. That’s of course what tyrants try to control first followed by scapegoating groups,…on and on…and no surprise it isolates people and creates fear, what is amazing is how that lady was able to overcome that fear to protest the war.
As to where are religion and moral authorities, that is still a good question. I hope against hope that religious authorities would be more active but basically, they are trying to be clever and self-preserving just like so many other people who are caught in this mess. Tragically I do not see much leadership. I recently read a book entitled the Pope and Mussolini, as both Italian and Vatican archives are opening up. There are a lot of factual materials about why the Catholic Church did not make more public statements during the war that are coming out No surprises but just documents. I think the book noted that during the entire war the Pope made not one comment about the Holocaust, and they made a “saint” out of him.
It’s a very well-documented book, and of course, the flight of well-connected Nazis to South America via the Church network is just a historical footnote these days, and so the tragedy continues. We see the same thing with the Russian Orthodox Church and their support of Putin over fellow Orthodox in Ukraine. Now one more schism will occur depending on what’s left after Russia destroys the country. The bigger question is where goes Eastern Europe(?), back to becoming satellite states of Russia. and then what is NATO’s response.
Probably too late for a comment on this, I am a little behind in my emails.
I have read recently about how the Church and Italian citizens saved thousands of Jews?
Have to check my file for the sources.
Just go to our website https://www.italic.org and navigate to the Research Library. You will find a fairly complete report entitled Italy and Holocaust with all the details of Italian efforts to save or protect European Jews.
Thank you so much.