Sen. Grassley Accuses Russian Orthodox Church of Persecution in Ukraine

Russian Orthodox Church's Role in Ukraine War

• 🇷🇺 Senator Chuck Grassley criticizes the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) for falsely claiming persecution by Ukraine.
• 💡 The ROC is accused of taking directions from Moscow, where the patriarch is a former KGB agent reporting to Vladimir Putin.
• 🗣️ Religious leaders from Ukraine previously informed Grassley that religious freedom exists in Ukraine, contrary to ROC claims.

ROC's Support for the Invasion

• 📜 A report titled "The Russian Orthodox Church and the War" details how the ROC supports the invasion through propaganda, rituals for invaders, and espionage.
• 🤝 The Atlantic Council hosted an event discussing how the ROC supports the Kremlin's war against Ukraine.
• 📉 Only 4-8% of Orthodox Ukrainians still identify with the Moscow Church, with the majority aligning with the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

Patriarch Bartholomew's Stance

• 🕊️ Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew stated that orthodoxy does not support war, violence, or terrorism, damaging the prestige of the whole of orthodoxy.
• ⚠️ Grassley warns against believing claims that the ROC is a victim of religious persecution in Ukraine.

ROC as Perpetrator of Persecution

• ✝️ The Russian Orthodox Church is identified as a leading perpetrator of persecution against fellow Orthodox believers, Catholics, Evangelicals, and others.
• 🇺🇦 In occupied Ukraine, the ROC has allegedly turned churches into a secular ministry and tortured pastors and faithful who are forced to worship in secret.
• 🌐 Information about religious persecution in occupied Ukraine can be found at RussiaTortureChristians.org.