People ask whether the Russo-Ukrainian war can be considered a step toward the unification of the triune Rus. Let’s delve into what Holy Rus is and what makes it holy.
The Current Conflict Between Russia and Ukraine
Today, I won’t discuss aspects of prayer. Instead, I’ll focus on what is currently most relevant. Russia attacked Ukraine, and we are at war. This conflict began back in 2014, when Crimea was annexed, and then Russian mercenaries seized control of Donbas, terrorizing local residents for years. Now, a full-scale war has erupted. On February 24, 2022 the bombardment of peaceful cities began. The scenes are reminiscent of World War II—airplanes dropping bombs, houses collapsing, refugees fleeing, fires raging. The Ukrainian army is responding—hundreds of destroyed and obliterated Russian tanks, and Russian soldiers killed. Both sides are suffering losses.
Russian Christians Justifying Government Actions
I would like to draw attention to one particular aspect that seems especially relevant to me: many Russian Christians, for some reason, justify the actions of their government. If they honestly admitted their imperialist ambitions and desire to conquer the world, starting with Ukraine, I might understand. This, of course, is incompatible with Christian values, but let’s assume they hold pagan beliefs and see this as their mission.
Historical Patterns of Imperialism and Aggression
This is nothing new: throughout history, many civilizations have risen, fallen, decayed, brought harm to people, and disregarded any losses. Imperialism is, in a way, a toy for adults—a game of conquest, control, domination over people, and deciding their fates. Some enjoy playing such games. And since even the most inhumane ideas in the world always find followers, it’s understandable that such people become enemies, come to “teach someone a lesson,” and ultimately end up burying themselves in Ukrainian soil, fertilizing our black earth. In the end, the dialogue ceases because it’s usually impossible to have a reasonable conversation with people who simply want to destroy you. That much is clear.
The False Pseudo-Theological Notion of Putin's Mission
But a very false pseudo-theological notion has emerged: many believers in Russia think that Putin has a mission to unite the triune Rus. This idea, disguised in pseudo-spiritual attire, convinces people that they are not merely killing others and shedding rivers of blood, but are instead fulfilling a great Christian mission.
Can War Be Tied to a Christian Mission?
How can a Christian mission be tied to this? Let’s assume that Ukraine has been taken over by evil “Banderites,” and you want to liberate it from them. Why, then, bomb Russian-speaking, pro-Russian cities like Kharkiv and Mariupol? That’s another question, but let’s suppose. The problem is that the concept of Holy Rus, as spoken of even by some so-called prophets and saints, does not align with this. Let’s figure out what Holy Rus is, what makes it holy, and what makes Rus, Rus.
Understanding Holiness: Unity with God and Christ
Holiness is unity with God, unity with Christ, as we sing in the Liturgy: “One is holy, one is Lord, Jesus Christ.” It is the image of Christ within each of us. If Christ is reflected in us, we become holy; if not, we lose this unity. If it is not Christ but the Antichrist reflected in us, we fall under the influence of unholiness, demonic forces, and evil. The ideas espoused by proponents of the so-called “Russian world” have nothing to do with Christianity and are more likely manifestations of demonic influence.
The "Russian World" Ideology vs. Christian Values
Christ taught us to bring love, peace, and joy, to help our neighbors, and not to demand from others what does not belong to us. In Christian ethics, it’s quite the opposite—if someone asks us for help, we share what we have. However, the desire to claim foreign territories as one’s own and to gather lands that once might have belonged to others is incompatible with Christian values. This is a pagan idea, rooted in the worship of false gods and inspired by demons.
Holiness is reflected in how we follow Christ, keep His commandments, and treat our neighbors. It manifests in a divine love that forgives even the gravest of sinners and led Christ to sacrifice Himself out of love for us. If a country, people, or individuals walk this path, we can call it a path of holiness and support them. But if they act as invaders, bringing evil, suffering, and death, they cannot be called holy. There is nothing holy in such an approach.
Personal Accounts from Donbas: The "Russian Orthodox Army"
As someone who is from Donbas, who grew up in Donetsk, I vividly remember what happened when so-called Cossacks, militias, and an assortment of misfits entered Donetsk. For a time, the so-called “Russian Orthodox Army” operated in Donbas. This was a radical group notorious for its cruelty. I’ve heard that they were among the most brutal formations, absolute satanists. They tortured people like no one else. For example, a priest I know was captured by them. He had diabetes, but they denied him medication, mocked him, and left him severely injured. It was only with great difficulty that he was freed from the dungeons of this “Russian Orthodox Army.” This happened only after international outcry and pressure. Presumably, someone from Moscow intervened, and they released him to avoid drawing further attention.
Such behavior is utterly incompatible with Christianity. The “Russian Orthodox Army” has nothing to do with Orthodoxy—it is closer to pseudo-Orthodoxy and satanism.
Incompatibility of Aggression with Christianity
Here, aggression is taking place; people are killing each other. Ukrainians are defending their land, while Russia is attempting to seize it.
The idea that the Russian army brings holiness—just think about it, what kind of holiness can there be when cities are being bombed? What holiness could exist here? Holiness is about protecting others! For example, if someone was conscripted into the Russian army, I can understand that. Perhaps they didn’t want to join, but they were drafted without being asked—maybe before this, they served in more peaceful capacities. In such a case, holiness would be avoiding a criminal order and refusing to obey one’s commanders, even if they were to execute them as a deserter for it. That would be holiness; it would be a martyr’s death—a person refusing to kill their brothers and instead taking the blow from demonic commanders. But is it holy to get into a tank, plow forward, and crush protestors under its tracks? That’s not holiness; it’s outright demonic.
Defining Russianness: What Is Rus and Holy Rus?
Now, what is “Russianness”? What is Rus? What is Holy Rus?
When we speak of Rus, as you well know, it is not Moscow. It is the mother of all Rus' cities, the capital and sacred city of Kyiv, the holy center of Orthodoxy. This city, Kyiv, is indeed mystical—it truly is a second Jerusalem. In this context, “Russian” does not mean the modern Russian state but rather the people of Rus—the Rusyns—those who lived in the state with its capital in Kyiv. Collectively, they accepted Christ as their God. Rus confessed Christ, rejected idols, and renounced idolatry. The people of Kyiv embraced Christ. Thus, Ukrainians became the second people, after Israel, to enter into a covenant with the Lord.
I’m not diminishing similar covenants made by other nations, as there are many Christian nations. I’m not claiming Ukrainians were the only ones. But I am saying that, at the very least, in the Slavic world, the Rusyns, the inhabitants of the Kyiv state, entered into a covenant with the Lord, confessed Christ as Lord, and began to follow Him. In this way, Rus became holy—Rus was consecrated to Christ.
Kyiv: The Spiritual Center of Holy Rus
This Rus includes the lands, the ethnic groups, and the peoples whose capital is the city of Kyiv. Consequently, Muscovy was never called Rus—never. The state with its capital in Moscow was Muscovy, one of the principalities founded, incidentally, by princes from Kyiv. It was essentially a province, a remote frontier of Rus, where part of the administration was moved for military campaigns and logistical purposes. A settlement grew in this region, eventually becoming Moscow, and its importance increased. Later, during the Tatar-Mongol invasion, Moscow became even more fortified.
Muscovy's Historical Separation from Rus
In short, the Muscovite principality, though founded by Kyiv, did not belong to Kyivan Rus. Muscovite princes often waged war against Kyiv. For instance, Andrei Bogolyubsky plundered Kyiv's churches and monasteries, taking their treasures to Muscovy. In its time, Muscovy aggressively annexed the Novgorod principality, drowning it in blood, destroying Novgorod, and massacring its inhabitants. Muscovy was thus one of the aggressive offshoots of Rus—a frontier where certain princes operated—whereas Rus itself, or “Rossiya” (the Greek equivalent of Rus), referred to the state with its capital in Kyiv. This is why Rus is what we now call Ukraine.
Ukraine is not 'borderland'
Ukraine is also a name found in chronicles, and its etymology is significant. In Ukrainian, the word “vkraina” (“v” alternates with “u”—meaning “in the land”) refers to the center of the country, not the borderland, as some claim. Muscovy was a frontier, while Ukraine is the center—in fact, Rus is Kyiv and Chernihiv. This is why all prophetic sayings refer to Kyivan Rus—Ukraine. They were written at a time when Rus, the Ukrainian part of Rus, its center, and Kyiv were under the protectorate of certain Muscovite princes.
Prophecies Applied to Ukraine After Rus's Dissolution
Thus, the visions and prophecies about Rus bringing light to all nations, enlightening and saving the world, providing a messiah, and preparing the way for the Savior referred to the state to which Kyiv belonged.
At the time of the dissolution of Rus, all these prophecies about its global mission became applicable to Ukraine, because Kyiv is the capital of Ukraine. If the visionaries and elders had known that Russia and Ukraine would split—that the frontier of Rus, Muscovy, would separate from the center of Rus, Kyiv, Ukraine—then they would have clarified their prophecies, specifying that they referred to the state whose capital is Kyiv, which is Rus. Therefore, I will not analyze all the prophecies now, but many of them were given during the times when Kyiv was part of the Russian, or Muscovite, domain. As a result, people assumed these prophecies applied to the entire Russian people. However, it turned out that they do not refer to the Russian people in the modern sense but to the Ukrainian people, the people of Rus. Therefore, Holy Rus is, in fact, Ukraine. It has preserved its traditions. You know that Ukrainians are more devout than Russians. Ukraine has roughly the same number of Orthodox churches and parishes as all of Russia combined, perhaps even more if you include all Ukrainian Orthodox jurisdictions. Ukrainians, unlike Russians, are more active in attending church and leading spiritual lives. Thus, the traditions of Holy Rus have been better preserved in Ukraine than in Russia, which makes sense since Kyiv remains the center of Rus.
Ignatius Bryanchaninov's Prophecy About Russia
Regarding Russia, let us recall another prophecy made by Ignatius Bryanchaninov. He made it knowing that there was a distinction between Russia and Little Russia, meaning the original Rus. “Little” does not mean small or a younger brother but refers to the original, as in “Little Greece” (the Greek homeland) versus “Great Greece” (Byzantium, which originated from Little Greece). This Little Rus, or Little Russia, was partially part of the Russian Empire.
Ignatius Bryanchaninov said the following: our people—referring to the Great Russian people, meaning Russians in the modern sense—will become the tools of the Antichrist. With our idea of a tsar who will rule the entire world and be revered by all, we will carry these ideas forward, conquer others, and thus become the instruments of the Antichrist. According to him, Russians would attribute saintly qualities to this tsar, seeing him as a great figure who supposedly brings the Orthodox faith. But in reality, it will be the exact opposite.
A Call to Russian Christians: Reflect and Act
Think about this prophecy, dear Russians. To avoid becoming instruments in the hands of the Antichrist, it is necessary to understand that the holiness of a Christian people lies in the truth. The truth is that Russia is an aggressor state, that Russia attacked Ukraine eight days ago. If you are truly Christians and wish to call yourselves Christians, if Christ is your Lord, your Teacher, your Savior, you must make every effort to stop your dictator. What those efforts should be is for you to decide. Many nations, including Ukrainians, have experience in how this is done. In any case, as in Germany during Hitler’s era, when he also carried messianic ideas, the best way to be a Christian, to manifest your Christianity, is to resist evil by every available means.
The Importance of Naming Aggression Truthfully
"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good," Scripture says. Good means calling things by their proper names: calling aggression aggression, calling war war. Today in Russia, it is even forbidden to call this war a war. It is called a “special military operation,” as if it is not a war. This is akin to how abortion, the killing of a human being, is euphemistically called “termination of pregnancy,” as though it were something harmless. The same applies here: it is a war. Your state attacked our state, Rus, Holy Rus!
The Role of Prayer and Action in Upholding Holy Rus
If the term "Holy Rus" means anything to you, then pray and act. If your heart has turned to stone and you can no longer feel this, then not even the Jesus Prayer will help you. The Jesus Prayer is not a mantra or a magical incantation that works regardless of our lives and behavior. The Jesus Prayer is the heart of Christian life. On the one hand, it is the foundation of our life in Christ; on the other, it is its crown. Our life in Christ is defined by how we conduct ourselves every day, every minute. If we bless people, the Jesus Prayer becomes sustenance for our spirit. If we curse people without the Lord Jesus’ authority, the prayer becomes an empty sound. Christ is the living Lord who comes into a humble heart that loves its neighbor and is ready to lay down its life for them.
Holy Rus is the land with its capital in Kyiv. Holy Rus is alive; it brings light. Rus will bring light even to you and, through its suffering and trials, will save you.
Glory to Jesus Christ!