Your holiness,

From Christians all around the world.

We write to you in great concern over your public support of the Russian “special military operation” in Ukraine. It has brought the name of our savior Jesus Christ in disrepute among the nations.

We understand your deep love for the Russian people, nation and culture. But we remind you that through faith and the holy baptism, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Gal 3.28).

We understand your grief over the reinstatement of an autocephalous metropolitanate in Kyiv. We advise you that this dispute cannot be settled by means of war.

We understand your concern over the dechristianization of the western world. Western churches have to take responsibility for their failures in witnessing to the truth of Jesus Christ. But Jesus Christ announced a kingdom that is not from this world, and for which his followers would not take arms (Joh 18.38). By calling this “special military operation” a spiritual fight, you are grossly distorting Jesus’ message.

As Christians, we are called to be peacemaker. We know that “all those who take the sword will die by the sword” (Mat 26.52). With great urgency we ask you to stop giving any kind of spiritual approval for the ongoing operation in Ukraine. We ask you to seek resolution of disagreement over the Ukrainian metropolitanate with this assistance of Christian primates rather than political and military power. We ask you to work for peace and an end to military operations.

We pray that the Holy Spirit will lead you in all wisdom to act in this regard.

Respectfully yours in our Lord Jesus-Christ