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Wolves in Sheep's Clothing examines the Russian Orthodox Church's historic devolution from a church to a mere peddler of political power as a state intelligence instrument. Today's Russian Orthodox Church seeks to emerge as the most consequential syndicate of social influence across Europe in service to Vladimir Putin's quest for empire.
The Moscow Patriarchate's breach of Orthodox unity over the reemergence of an autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarch prioritizes Russian nationalism at the expense of traditional Christian values. The reasoning is neither ecclesial nor theological but a brazen attempt to prolong Russia's social suzerainty over its neighbors and impose a European submission to the Russkiy Mir. Patriarch Kirill's intention is to displace Constantinople as the centre of Orthodoxy and finally establish Moscow as the 'New Rome'. Moscow's geopolitical proposition is pregnant with peril. Moscow has the audacity to plead religious persecution by undermining their neighbors' right to control their Orthodox churches while simultaneously banning the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Russian occupied territories. An inescapable conclusion emerges from it all: The Russian Orthodox Church is a potent and pernicious threat to European cohesion, security, and democracy.
About the author
Miceál O'Hurley, PhD, is an internationally acclaimed mediator working in international conflict resolution. Educated in theology, philosophy and law, O'Hurley employs his education and training in conflict resolution from personal to international conflicts. He serves as the Envoy of the Royal House of Ghassan to the United Nations. A recipient of many honours and awards for his humanitarian work throughout his career, he continues to devote his efforts to the sustainment of Christian communities in the Levant. O'Hurley is the author of several book including the best-selling
The Passionate Steward: Recovering Christian Stewardship from Secular Fundraising (St. Brigid Press, 2002).
Summary
Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing
examines the Russian Orthodox Church’s historic devolution from a church to a mere peddler of political power as a state intelligence instrument. Today’s Russian Orthodox Church seeks to emerge as the most consequential syndicate of social influence across Europe in service to Vladimir Putin’s quest for empire.
The Moscow Patriarchate’s breach of Orthodox unity over the reemergence of an autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarch prioritizes Russian nationalism at the expense of traditional Christian values. The reasoning is neither ecclesial nor theological but a brazen attempt to prolong Russia’s social suzerainty over its neighbors and impose a European submission to the Russkiy Mir. Patriarch Kirill’s intention is to displace Constantinople as the centre of Orthodoxy and finally establish Moscow as the ‘New Rome’. Moscow’s geopolitical proposition is pregnant with peril. Moscow has the audacity to plead religious persecution by undermining their neighbors’ right to control their Orthodox churches while simultaneously banning the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Russian occupied territories. An inescapable conclusion emerges from it all: The Russian Orthodox Church is a potent and pernicious threat to European cohesion, security, and democracy.
