For the past week or so, I have been getting quite a few emails and messages from people wanting to understand what “the Orthodox” think about the invasion of Ukraine.

That’s a massive question. In my experience, the Orthodox are praying for a ceasefire and negotiations, seeking a Ukraine that is militarily independent of the United States-European Union and, certainly, Vladimir Putin’s Moscow regime.

At this point, no one should be surprised that Orthodox leaders aligned with USA-EU and Turkey are releasing fierce statements against Putin’s arrogant and evil invasion of Ukraine. At the same time, no one should be surprised that Patriarch Kirill of Moscow has tried to call for peace, while avoiding any language that openly clashes with the autocrat next door. You end up with language such as:

As the Patriarch of All Russia and the primate of a Church whose flock is located in Russia, Ukraine, and other countries, I deeply empathize with everyone affected by this tragedy. 

I call on all parties to the conflict to do everything possible to avoid civilian casualties. I appeal to the bishops, pastors, monastics, and laity to provide all possible assistance to all victims, including refugees and people left homeless and without means of livelihood. 

The Russian and Ukrainian peoples have a common centuries-old history dating back to the Baptism of Rus’ by Prince St. Vladimir the Equal-to-the-Apostles. I believe that this God-given affinity will help overcome the divisions and disagreements that have arisen that have led to the current conflict.

Note this meek language — “I call on all parties to the conflict to do everything possible to avoid civilian casualties” — that still manages to condemn the current actions of Russia’s leaders.

Anyone seeking the “Orthodox mind” on this matter needs to remember that Eastern Orthodoxy, no matter what Western media think, has no pope and that its (I should candidly say “our”) conciliar approach to settling disputes moves very slowly, with good cause.

In this hellish battle, I think that it’s crucial for journalists to pay close attention to the public statements and actions of the Orthodox leaders — global and in the United States — who recognize the important and complicated history of the Kievan Rus, but who also believe that Putin’s has tried to warp and manipulate that history to justify his own actions.

The Orthodox Christianity website has been featuring waves of direct links to statements by Orthodox leaders and, frequently, useful translations. For example, see this passage at the end of a recent report:

Statements have also been issued by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, His Holiness Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II of Georgia, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania, and the hierarchs of the Finnish Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon of Washington (OCA), His Holiness Patriarch Neofit of Bulgaria, the Holy Synod of the Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of ROCOR, His Eminence Metroplitan Vladimir of Moldova, His Eminence Metropolitan John of Dubna, and Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens, and His Beatitude Metropolitan Benjamin of Minsk.

I was pleased, in particular, to note this Religion News Service report: “Moscow Patriarch Kirill, Ukrainian Orthodox leaders issue calls for peace.”

While the Moscow patriarch gets the headline, the most important quotes — for those seeking less predictable commentary — is this:

Speaking to members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church who answer to the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev called the invasion of Ukraine “a disaster,” according to a translation of his statement from OrthoChristian. He addressed Russian President Vladimir Putin directly in his remarks. 

“Defending the sovereignty and integrity of Ukraine, we appeal to the President of Russia and ask him to immediately stop the fratricidal war,” he said. “The Ukrainian and Russian peoples came out of the Dnieper Baptismal font, and the war between these peoples is a repetition of the sin of Cain, who killed his own brother out of envy. Such a war has no justification either from God or from people.”

The “who answer to” language is a bit much. It’s important to know that Metropolitan Onuphry is a native of Western Ukraine and has strong ties with many Orthodox leaders here in the United States.

See, for example, the link to Kiev in this statement from Metropolitan Tikhon, leader of the Orthodox Church in America (I attend a parish in this flock), which has historical ties to the Russian Orthodox Church.

I ask that the hostilities be ceased immediately and that President Putin put an end to the military operations. As Orthodox Christians, we condemn violence and aggression. 

I offer my support and prayers to my brother and concelebrant, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy, who has the most difficult task of leading his beloved flock in this time of pain and anxiety. I also assure my prayers to the other religious leaders serving in Ukraine who have the delicate task of leading their communities in these difficult times.

Key word: “concelebrant.”

There are many other statements worth parsing, for those sincerely interested in what Orthodox leaders think of Putin’s hellish actions. Again, my advice is for journalists to look for the voices in the middle — bishops, archbishops, metropolitans and patriarchs who are not bowing to, well, Moscow or Istanbul. Look for those showing some independence and, thus, voices that may be part of an emerging core.

There is, for me, a personal element to all of this because I worship in a church that includes Russians, Romanians and others from the slavic world. Here in the OCA Diocese of Dallas and the South, our own Archbishop Alexander had this to say (while adding a prayer to our Sunday liturgies):

We earnestly pray that hostilities will cease and that differences will be resolved between brothers rather than between enemies. This military action does not express the life and faith of the Orthodox Church. It is not the way of Christ who is our peace. In particular we urge the Church to offer prayers of repentance to God that He might have mercy on us all, and to preserve the tranquility of all nations so that, as the Church in all the world, we may lead a calm and peaceful life in all godliness and sanctity.

All parishes and missions should include the following petition in the augmented litanies through the duration of the present conflict: "Again, we ask Thy great mercy on our brothers and sisters who are presently involved in conflict. Remove from their midst all hostility, confusion and hatred. Lead everyone along the path of reconciliation and peace, we pray Thee, hear us and have mercy on us."

Late last week, I posted this short commentary on Facebook and I offer it here, simply as a statement of what I am thinking and feeling. Feel free to take it into consideration when reading whatever I write on these subjects:

I'm no Ukraine expert, obviously. During two visits to Kiev, I was able to talk with some historians, think-tank pros and journalists. I also was blessed to worship, twice, at the Lavra monastery of the Kievan Caves. Here is what I heard, in terms of concepts that European-Ukrainians and Russian-Eukrainians could agree on.

* Soviets treated Ukraine horribly. Bloody memories that remain vivid.

* Soviets crushed two different cultures into one nation, guaranteeing strife — common Soviet tactic (think Yugoslavia) to focus tensions away from Moscow.

* USA-Europe wanted NATO in Ukraine. Russia opposed this. Period. Always.

* Kiev is ultimate landmine issue. Why? Because of crucial role Kiev plays in Russian mind. St. Petersburg is culture, Moscow is power, Kiev is spiritual roots of Rus/Motherland.

Summary: EU-USA was arrogant enough to think they could -- with money, culture and military tech -- turn Eastern-Russian Ukrainians into Europeans. Will Putin be arrogant enough to think he can, with blood, turn Western-European Ukrainians into Russians?

Brothers killing brothers. Pray for negotiations.

As an Orthodox Christian, I can also add: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.

FIRST IMAGE: Screen shot from a YouTube documentary on the history of the Lavra monastery of the Kievan Caves.