A Pro-Kremlin Newspaper Accused Patriarch Kirill Of “deifying” The Atomic Bomb

The Russian Orthodox Church saw this as a shift toward the ideology of “atomic Orthodoxy.”

The pro-Kremlin Russian newspaper *Moskovsky Komsomolets* published a critical op-ed about a sermon by the head of the Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill, who called the creation of the Soviet atomic bomb “God’s grace and mercy,” according to “Agency”.

The article appeared under the headline “Atomic Orthodoxy: Patriarch ‘Deifies’ the Nuclear Bomb and Urges People Not to Fear ‘Apocalyptic Scenarios.’” The author draws attention to the sharp shift in the views of the Russian Orthodox Church leadership and the strangeness of a Christian leader glorifying weapons of mass destruction.

The column notes that none of Kirill’s predecessors spoke about nuclear weapons with such enthusiasm. If one views his remarks as those of a statesman, they fit within the Kremlin’s logic. However, from a theological perspective, the statements by the head of the Russian Orthodox Church appear contradictory.

The author points out that the atomic bomb was first developed in the United States, and the Soviet nuclear program relied heavily on information obtained from participants in the American “Manhattan Project.”

Furthermore, the Russian Orthodox Church itself previously held a completely different view of nuclear weapons. A 1986 message from the Holy Synod spoke of the immorality of the policy of nuclear deterrence and the need to rid the world of weapons of mass destruction.

Now, however, the church leadership not only proclaims the Soviet atomic bomb to be a miracle of God but also urges the faithful not to fear a possible nuclear war.

“Perhaps we are now dealing with an entirely different system of views and values,” the author writes, calling this ideology “atomic Orthodoxy.”

Patriarch Kirill delivered a controversial sermon on August 1 after the liturgy at the Holy Trinity Seraphim-Diveyevo Monastery. He stated that the creation of the atomic bomb by Soviet scientists was made possible in part by the prayers of Seraphim of Sarov.

According to the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, through the labor of scientists, engineers, and workers, “God’s grace and mercy” allegedly “came upon” the country.

“Moskovsky Komsomolets” is considered one of Russia’s largest publications and very rarely offers direct criticism of representatives of the Kremlin or the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church.

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