Statement by Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad against the danger of extremism and enmity, motivated by the double crime committed against the Russian Orthodox Church

STATEMENT BY METROPOLITAN KIRILL OF SMOLENSK AND KALININGRAD AGAINST THE DANGER OF EXTREMISM AND ENMITY, MOTIVATED BY THE DOUBLE CRIME COMMITTED AGAINST THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH

The sad news of the murder of Archpriest Boris Ponomarev, rector of the Church of St. Elijah the Prophet at Mozhaisk, and of the burning of the Church of St. Philaret the Merciful at Zelenograd has aroused sorrow and concern among millions of Orthodox believers. His Eminence Kirill, Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, sent the following message of condolences to His Eminence Juvenaly, Metropolitan of Krutitsy and Kolomna:

“Your Eminence, Dear Metropolitan,

In connection with the murder of Archpriest Boris Ponomarev at Mozhaisk and the burning of the Church of St. Philaret the Merciful at Zelenograd, please accept the expressions of fraternal love, compassion and prayerful support in this hour of trial for you personally and for the dioceses governed by you.

Verily, this double villainy, in which a House of God and a servant of the Lord’s Altar were victimized, is a cry against heaven, for “cursed be he who slays his neighbor in secret” (Deut. 27:24).

Such grave crimes against our Church compel all those who cherish Orthodoxy and the future of Russia to come out resolutely against political extremism, interreligious enmity, terrorism and violence gaining a foothold in today’s society.

Together with all the people of God we pray for the rest of the soul of murdered Archpriest Boris in the mansions of the righteous and for sending to all the living the spirit of love and mercy.”