Representative of the Russian Orthodox Church Kipshidze: Patriarch Kirill did not mean that the church renounces gays that the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) denies or rejects persons of non-traditional sexual orientation. Vakhtang Kipshidze, deputy chairman of the Synodal Department for Church Relations with Society and the Media, said this in a commentary to the Gazeta.Ru portal.
“As for persons who are susceptible to this sin (homosexuality – note” Lenta.ru “), opportunities for repentance and spiritual healing are open for them,” the representative of the Russian Orthodox Church promised. According to him, gays, along with other sinners, for example, thieves and gluttons, can come to churches and bring their repentance.
However, Kipshidze emphasized, it is impossible to speak about the recognition of the normality of sin, and this is what the patriarch had in mind when he spoke about the non-recognition of same-sex unions. He explained that if the border between sin and righteousness is destroyed, then any religious teaching, any church will naturally and inevitably lose its influence.
The representative of the Russian Orthodox Church noted with regret that in a number of Western countries, under pressure from the “liberal media” Christian communities, especially Protestant ones, began to reconsider their position. This approach in the ROC can only be defined as absolutely non-Christian, since real Christians – Orthodox, Catholics, Protestants – will never agree that marriage can be called any union other than the union of a man and a woman.
In addition to turning to On the topic of same-sex marriages, Patriarch Kirill also announced that Russia is not just a free country, but the leader of the free world, because it chooses its own path of development and is not subject to outside influence.
On Saturday, November 20, Kirill ( in the world Vladimir Gundyaev) is 75 years old. Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded the Patriarch with the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called in honor of his birthday. Earlier it was awarded to Kirill's predecessor, Patriarch Alexy II.