His Holiness Patriarch Kyrill of Moscow and All Russia addressed the archpastors, pastors, monastics and all faithful children of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Your Beatitude! Your Eminences and Graces! Dear fathers, brothers & sisters!

It is with deep and heartfelt pain that I witness the suffering of people caused by the events taking place.

As the Patriarch of All Rus’ and the Primate of the Church, whose flock is in Russia, Ukraine and other countries, I deeply empathize with everyone who is experiencing misfortune.

I call on all parties of the conflict to do everything possible to avoid civilian casualties.

I appeal to bishops, pastors, monastics and laity to provide available assistance to all victims, including refugees, people left without shelter and livelihood.

The Russian and Ukrainian peoples have a common centuries-old history dating back to the Baptism of Rus’ by holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir. I believe that this God-given commonality will help overcome the divisions and contradictions that have arisen that have led to the current conflict.

I call on the entirety of the Russian Orthodox Church to raise deep, fervent prayer for the speedy restoration of peace.

May the all-merciful Lord, through the intercession of our Most Pure Lady Theotokos and all the saints, preserve the Russian, Ukrainian and other peoples, which our Church spiritually unites!

+KYRILL
PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA

Translated from the Russian, www.patriarchia.ru