Russia's Putin attends midnight Orthodox Easter mass in Moscow

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

(Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin on Sunday attended an Easter mass conducted by the Russian Orthodox Church, which has strongly backed the Kremlin leader's "special military operation" in Ukraine.

Putin, dressed in a dark blue suit, a white shirt and dark purple tie, stood to one side in Moscow's Christ the Saviour Cathedral, holding a lit red candle, live images of the midnight service showed.

The Russian leader crossed himself several times during the ceremony. When Patriarch Kirill announced "Christ has risen", Putin joined the other members of the congregation with the reply "Truly he is risen". He otherwise did not speak.

At an outdoor service in Moscow on Saturday, Kirill said he hoped the conflict in Ukraine would end quickly but did not condemn it. His statements backing Russia's intervention, which has been condemned by Kyiv and Western nations as an act of aggression, have splintered the worldwide Orthodox Church.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/russias-putin-attends-midnight-orthodox-easter-mass-in-moscow/ar-AAWwz1U

Who would Jesus invade?

[EYESORE 9001]

1. Too bad

the risen Christ didn’t make an impromptu comeback and smite him.

[napi21]

2. When did a church start backing violance & war? I know about the Crusades but

that's ancient history. I'm asking about since the 20th century.

Next, they're going to tell us Putin is a very religious man!

[Xolodno]

4. The Russian Orthodox has a long history of supporting the state.

The only time they didn't do it was under the USSR. Prior to the revolution, they supported the Tsar and he supported them, allowing them to persecute any and all other faiths. And they stamped down hard on any breakaway groups such as the "Stari Ved" (Old believers), Dukabors, Molokans, Khylysty, Subotniki, etc. They were not going to allow what they saw in the west during the Protestant Reformation.

Today Russia is still officially "secular", but the Orthodox Church gets a lot of privileges the others don't. And the Greek Orthodox church is considered the first among equals...but the Russian Orthodox church holds all the influence and power in Orthodoxy.

[Igel]

13. Starovery, Dukhobory, Khilisty.

Come on, yue gatta noe bedder.

Molokane and Dukhobory were subvarieties of Starovery. Gotta have the right number of fingers in the blessing.

WWII, Stalin's perfidy, changed Stalin. He needed unanimity and officially countenanced the ROC, which promptly supported him. Granted, it's a no-brainer. Negative solidarity works like that. But after 1941 or so there was an ROC seminary and the church was tolerated, although Party membership and church membership were pretty much mutually exclusive.

Okay, I exaggerate. Party membership and church membership were completely mutually exclusive.

[Xolodno]

14. Surprised anyone knew what I was talking about.

Molokans (milk drinker) was just a term for a bunch of unaffiliated break away groups. They really didn't come to prominence until a certain son-in-law broke away from the Dukabors and joined with them and created a more cohesive group. Most of the Subotniki eventually converted to Judaism. The Khlysiti is thought to have gone extinct, but I hear whispers...

And many of these groups can be found here in the USA, Australia, Canada and at one time, Mexico. Of course I'm speaking outside of the old Russian empire, which includes Armenia, Georgia, Ukraine, etc.

As for the Old Believers, they still revere icons. Most other groups condemned it. Wonder if Captain...what's his name? Imalyian? If his movement is still around, heard it was some time back, but, that was some time back.

[doc03]

10. It's the Christian right that backs the Trump cult nt

[keithbvadu2]

3. Did Vlad hold a Bible upside down for a photo op?

[GregariousGroundhog]

16. Nope

A little birdie told me that he arranged for a particular chalice of wine to be laced with polonium though.

[dhol82]

5. He looks significantly better than he did the other day.

How?
He appeared very ill at that meeting with the finance minister. What’s up?

[TheBlackAdder]

6. Perhaps it's Agent ZZZ, Putin's body double. 🤣

[NJCher]

9. he looks very sad

in this video. In fact, when he crosses himself, he almost looks like he's going to cry.

[Carlitos Brigante]

11. A fresh batch of children's blood? nt

[dhol82]

12. We have to find his last Horcrux.

[Carlitos Brigante]

17. I had to Google that one :-)

[EX500rider]

18. Here's what I read:

"....rumors of his health problems. These have been getting more attention, especially from Russian reporters with better access to Putin’s activities and appearance over the last few years. It’s no surprise that the 69-year-old Putin is often accompanied by doctors as he moves around. But one particular doctor who is often present is a thyroid cancer specialist."


https://www.strategypage.com/qnd/russia/articles/20220405.aspx

[dhol82]

19. Interesting

[smirkymonkey]

7. The hypocrisy just kills me.

Why do so many evil people hide behind religion when it's so clear that they are in violation of all its tenets?

[sinkingfeeling]

8. Too bad God didn't strike him dead.

[Crunchy Frog]

15. My Easter wish for Russia...

Is that fire and brimstone will rain down onto all of their military forces in Ukraine, and that their economy and society will descend into the depths of Hell.

I'm not praying because I don't believe in god, but I am wishing and hoping.