putin vows to protect christianity
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Why all those shirtless photos?
To expose his baptismal cross. |
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In January 2012, Putin promised to protect Christianity worldwide. Putin met with Patriarch Kirill of Moscow (Russia's Orthodox Church Patriarch) at Moscow’s main cathedral. During this meeting, the Patriarch told Putin that every five minutes one Christian was dying for his or her faith in some part of the world, specifically in countries such as Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Pakistan and India; and that Christians are facing repressions all over the world. The cleric asked Putin to make the protection of Christians one of the foreign policy directions in the future. Putin told the Patriarch that he could count on it--that he would make policies to protect Christians.
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Just a few years after that meeting, the Russian Orthodox Church, which has reclaimed its traditional role in Russia (thanks to Putin), described Russia's fight against the Islamic State and other jihadi groups in Syria as a "holy war".
Vsevolod Chaplin, head of the the Russian Orthodox Church's Public Affairs Department said:
"The fight with terrorism is a holy battle and today our country is perhaps the most active force in the world fighting it. The Russian Federation has made a responsible decision on the use of armed forces to defend the People of Syria from the sorrows caused by the arbitrariness of terrorists. Christians are suffering in the region with the kidnapping of clerics and the destruction of churches."
Vsevolod Chaplin, head of the the Russian Orthodox Church's Public Affairs Department said:
"The fight with terrorism is a holy battle and today our country is perhaps the most active force in the world fighting it. The Russian Federation has made a responsible decision on the use of armed forces to defend the People of Syria from the sorrows caused by the arbitrariness of terrorists. Christians are suffering in the region with the kidnapping of clerics and the destruction of churches."
Putin was greatly influenced by Ivan Ilyin, a Russian political and religious thinker. Ilyin promoted ethnic-religious traditionalism, and the unique "Russian soul." Ilyin believed Russia could recover from the Bolshevik revolution and recover itself spiritually then politically. Putin has mentioned Ilyin in several major speeches.
Putin has described the central role of the Russian Orthodox Church as Russia's "spiritual shield", that a church-grounded spiritual resistance to the problems Russia faces is as important to Russia's security as a nuclear shield. Putin has been promoting Ilyin's vision for Russia, based on the promotion of the Church and traditional values which he feels will bring a spiritual renewal to the Russian people.
In Putin's speeches he has spoken about the need for religious revival and the valuable role that the Orthodox Church plays, stating that the Church plays a major role in preserving Russia's rich historical and cultural heritage and in supporting moral values. He has stated that the church brings unity, strengthens family ties, and educates the younger generation in a spirit of patriotism. (1)
Putin's core statements in many various speeches have always focused on extreme patriotism and Christian faith. He has also stated:
“We must protect Russia from that which has destroyed American society” (the anti-Christian liberalism that has, in many ways, destroyed America's core). He does not want to see that happen in Russia and is an avid promoter of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Putin has described the central role of the Russian Orthodox Church as Russia's "spiritual shield", that a church-grounded spiritual resistance to the problems Russia faces is as important to Russia's security as a nuclear shield. Putin has been promoting Ilyin's vision for Russia, based on the promotion of the Church and traditional values which he feels will bring a spiritual renewal to the Russian people.
In Putin's speeches he has spoken about the need for religious revival and the valuable role that the Orthodox Church plays, stating that the Church plays a major role in preserving Russia's rich historical and cultural heritage and in supporting moral values. He has stated that the church brings unity, strengthens family ties, and educates the younger generation in a spirit of patriotism. (1)
Putin's core statements in many various speeches have always focused on extreme patriotism and Christian faith. He has also stated:
“We must protect Russia from that which has destroyed American society” (the anti-Christian liberalism that has, in many ways, destroyed America's core). He does not want to see that happen in Russia and is an avid promoter of the Russian Orthodox Church.
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Photo:
Russian weapons to fight ISIS and other Islamist terrorist groups in Syria are blessed first by a priest before leaving Russia for Syria. Meanwhile in America, priests are being removed from the army, and replaced by Muslim imams. |
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Putin’s father was a communist, but his mother was an Orthodox Christian. Putin was baptized as a child but was not a practicing Christian during his KGB years. During the late 'Soviet Union' period, Putin went back to his Christian roots. By the late 1990’s, Putin was wearing his baptismal cross openly, and his re-birth into Christianity has been a major part of his life and political career as Prime Minister and now President. Many of his bare-chested photo ops were an excuse to display his Christian Cross to show what he stands for.
In a 2014 speech at Valdai Club, Putin said:
“Another serious challenge to Russia’s identity is linked to events taking place in the world. Here there are both foreign policy and moral aspects. We can see how many of the Euro-Atlantic countries are actually rejecting their roots, including the Christian values that constitute the basis of Western civilization. They are denying moral principles and all traditional identities: national, cultural, religious and even sexual. They are implementing policies that equate large families with same-sex partnerships, belief in God with the belief in Satan. The excesses of political correctness have reached the point where people are seriously talking about registering political parties whose aim is to promote pedophilia. People in many European countries are embarrassed or afraid to talk about their religious affiliations. Holidays are abolished or even called something different; their essence is hidden away, as is their moral foundation. And people are aggressively trying to export this model all over the world. I am convinced that this opens a direct path to degradation and primitivism, resulting in a profound demographic and moral crisis.”
In a 2014 speech at Valdai Club, Putin said:
“Another serious challenge to Russia’s identity is linked to events taking place in the world. Here there are both foreign policy and moral aspects. We can see how many of the Euro-Atlantic countries are actually rejecting their roots, including the Christian values that constitute the basis of Western civilization. They are denying moral principles and all traditional identities: national, cultural, religious and even sexual. They are implementing policies that equate large families with same-sex partnerships, belief in God with the belief in Satan. The excesses of political correctness have reached the point where people are seriously talking about registering political parties whose aim is to promote pedophilia. People in many European countries are embarrassed or afraid to talk about their religious affiliations. Holidays are abolished or even called something different; their essence is hidden away, as is their moral foundation. And people are aggressively trying to export this model all over the world. I am convinced that this opens a direct path to degradation and primitivism, resulting in a profound demographic and moral crisis.”
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The Russia-Syria connection:
Russia has been a historic ally of Syria, with deep military, social and economic ties to the country since 1950. Russia has had a historically strong, stable, and friendly relationship with Syria, as it did with most of the Arab countries up until the Arab Spring. But Russia kept its close ties with Syria, and in fact, they grew stronger after the fall of Libya and Egypt to Islamists. Russia also has a naval base in the Mediterranean at the Syrian port of Tartus for its Black Sea Fleet, which is another factor in their strong ties financially and militarily. |
In early 2012, Russia took a strong stand in support of Syria's government and against international action that was initiated and promoted by Western and Arab/Muslim countries against Syria. As one of five veto-wielding members of UN Security Council, Russia declared they would veto sanctions against the Syrian government put before the Security Council. Russia also stated at that time that Russia would follow through with an earlier contract and commitment with Syria that supplied arms to Syria.
Syria and the USSR first started up ties in February 10, 1946 right before Syria gained her independence from France. Syria and the USSR formed an agreement that laid out diplomatic and political support from the USSR in the international arena and also Soviet military help for the foundation of Syria's National Army. Another agreement signed on April 10, 1950 further cemented Soviet–Syrian relations. During the Cold War period, the various conflicts and wars that broke out in the Middle East led Syria to form even closer ties with the USSR.
Russia's involvement with Syria is nothing new. There is no Russian "aggression" in Syria as western media has suggested. Russia is following through with a long-time commitment and relationship with Syria and recognized that an Islamist takeover would destroy Syria, the Syrian people and turn Syria into an Islamic State. This is why Russia is committed to fighting for Syria. It is fighting for Christianity's last stand in the Near East.
Syria and the USSR first started up ties in February 10, 1946 right before Syria gained her independence from France. Syria and the USSR formed an agreement that laid out diplomatic and political support from the USSR in the international arena and also Soviet military help for the foundation of Syria's National Army. Another agreement signed on April 10, 1950 further cemented Soviet–Syrian relations. During the Cold War period, the various conflicts and wars that broke out in the Middle East led Syria to form even closer ties with the USSR.
Russia's involvement with Syria is nothing new. There is no Russian "aggression" in Syria as western media has suggested. Russia is following through with a long-time commitment and relationship with Syria and recognized that an Islamist takeover would destroy Syria, the Syrian people and turn Syria into an Islamic State. This is why Russia is committed to fighting for Syria. It is fighting for Christianity's last stand in the Near East.
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Photo left: In October of 2013, after over two years of brutal war in Syria at the hands of Islamists, a giant bronze statue of Jesus was placed on Mount Sedneya in Syria. The statue is 105 feet tall. The giant statue can be seen from Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine and Israel. The statue was funded by the Russian Orthodox Church and Russian government. |
Photos Below: Members of the Syrian National Army prepare to battle Islamist "opposition" groups and ISIS in Hakasah, Syria;
Syrians try to continue on with life while attacked by US-backed "opposition" groups, even getting married (in a bombed-out church);
Children stop to pray in a bombed out church.
Syrians try to continue on with life while attacked by US-backed "opposition" groups, even getting married (in a bombed-out church);
Children stop to pray in a bombed out church.
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