together. around the year 988. with the baptism of the first. the ruler of kyiv on. a territory including parts of modern day ukraine, russia and belarus. the capitol was not moscow. but kyiv. this is why kyiv and ukraine are so important to putin and patriarch. they want to return to the glory days of the midevil empire. ukraine has been independent since 1991. part of the ukrainian orthodox church for centuries linked to the russian church also officially severed ties to moscow in 20196789 2019. he wants the ukrainian church back. we must do everything to protect our church from outside action. his influence is important for the roughly 100 million russian
patriarch kirill wants the ukrainian church back. we must do everything we can to protect our common historical fatherland from all outside action. kirill s position is important for the russian orthodox, who are not religious identify deeply with the russian church. kirill calls it evil forces in an effort to divide them from russia. he said the war is, a quote, fundamental rejection of so-called values that are offered today by those who claim power. and the country s willingness to hold gay pride parades. patriarch kirill s support of the war has cost him. 12 orthodox churches in ukraine refuse to say his name in the