Press Release – August 30, 2026
For Immediate Release
Statement from the Orthodox Public Affairs Committee
(New York, NY) The Orthodox Public Affairs Committee (OPAC) expresses its continued dismay over the actions and public statements of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow. Rather than serving as a prophetic voice for peace, reconciliation, and the sanctity of every human life, Patriarch Kirill has repeatedly offered religious justification for Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine. He has portrayed the invasion as a sacred struggle, blessed those waging war, and increasingly intertwined the mission of the Russian Orthodox Church with the geopolitical ambitions of the Kremlin.
His recent statements are particularly troubling. Patriarch Kirill described Russia’s nuclear arsenal as a manifestation of God’s “grace and mercy” and asserted that the creation of the Soviet atomic bomb came about through divine providence and the prayers of St. Seraphim of Sarov. To invoke one of Orthodoxy’s most beloved saints in defense of weapons capable of unimaginable destruction is a profound distortion of the Christian faith. The Gospel proclaims peace, reconciliation, and the sacred dignity of every human person. It must never be used to sanctify war, imperial conquest, or nuclear intimidation.
Against this tragic backdrop stands the remarkable witness of the Ukrainian people. For more than four years, they have endured the horrors of an unprovoked war with extraordinary courage, resilience, and unwavering faith. Families have been torn apart, cities reduced to rubble, and countless innocent lives forever changed. Yet the Ukrainian people have refused to surrender either their freedom or their hope. Their perseverance has become an inspiration to the world.
Throughout this ordeal, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stood beside the Ukrainian people as their democratically elected leader. Remaining with his nation in its darkest hour, he has become the voice of a people determined to defend their homeland, preserve their freedom, and secure a just peace.
It is for these reasons that OPAC wholeheartedly applauds the St. Nicholas National Shrine for presenting its Beacon of Hope Award to President Zelenskyy and the people of Ukraine. In honoring President Zelenskyy, one honors the courage, sacrifice, and resilience of the entire Ukrainian nation.
The National Shrine of St. Nicholas was established to bear witness to the Light of Christ in the midst of darkness. Standing at the World Trade Center as a place of prayer, remembrance, and healing, it reminds all who visit that evil and hatred will never have the final word. As our nation marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the Shrine stands as a “beacon of hope” to all who suffer from violence, war, terrorism, and despair. Its mission is to proclaim that “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5).
No people better embody that message today than the people of Ukraine. By presenting the Beacon of Hope Award to President Zelenskyy, the Shrine honors not merely a head of state, but the millions of Ukrainians whose courage in the face of overwhelming adversity has become a witness to the triumph of hope over fear, freedom over tyranny, and faith over despair.
It is therefore deeply disappointing that some criticism of this award has been fueled by misinformation and narratives promoted by media outlets claiming to speak for Orthodoxy while failing to present the full truth. What’s more disappointing is that people actually believe it. Reporting that Ukraine is persecuting Christianity or “shutting down churches” ignore the crucial distinction between the free exercise of religion and actions taken by Ukrainian authorities against specific individuals and institutions alleged to have collaborated with an invading power during wartime. Faithful Orthodox Christians should reject simplistic slogans and propaganda from every source and instead seek a truthful and more informed understanding of these complex realities.
As Orthodox Christians, we are called to be witnesses to the Truth, not amplifiers of disinformation. Before repeating inflammatory accusations on social media or condemning those who seek to honor the courage of the Ukrainian people, we encourage every member of the faithful to examine the facts carefully, consult credible sources, and remember that bearing false witness is incompatible with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
OPAC commends the St. Nicholas National Shrine for remaining faithful to its sacred mission. In honoring President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Shrine honors a people who have endured unimaginable suffering without surrendering hope. At a place consecrated in memory of lives lost to terrorism twenty-five years ago, this recognition reminds the world that the Light of Christ continues to shine in the darkness, and the darkness shall never overcome it.
Truth Lives in Light!
###
For More Information, Please contact the Orthodox Public Affairs Committee at Info@OrthodoxPac.org