Lithuanian Orthodox Church dismisses PM’s criticism of its stance on war in Ukraine

The remarks of Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė to the Ukrainian media about the Lithuanian Orthodox Church’s stance on Russia’s war in Ukraine are unfounded, the Lithuanian Orthodox Archdiocese has said.

In a recent interview with the Ukrinform news agency, Šimonytė said that the Lithuanian Orthodox Church had initially taken “a very reasonable” stance on the war but later “changed their minds” and dismissed several clergymen who criticised Patriarch Kirill of Moscow for his support for the Kremlin.

“This statement has nothing to do with reality. The Lithuanian Orthodox Archdiocese condemned the war in a special statement the day after it started, on February 25,” the Archdiocese said in a statement on Monday.

“This was followed on March 17 by a statement by Metropolitan Inokentiy of Vilnius and Lithuania, in which he both clearly condemned the war and declared his disagreement with Patriarch Kirill. This statement was noted throughout the Orthodox world,” it added.

Inokentiy “reaffirmed his anti-war stance” in a new statement a month later, as did Bishop Amvrosijus of Trakai, the Archdiocese said, adding that the laity of the Diocese of Vilnius and Lithuania and “thousands of Orthodox believers from all over Lithuania” have also condemned the war.

Orthodox Church in Lithuania (associative image) | E. Blažio / LRT nuotr.

However, in mid-October, Amvrosijus did not give a clear answer to the question of who the Lithuanian Orthodox Church believed was to blame for the war.

“I think those who have the goal of making this war happen are to blame. And only God knows who has such a goal,” the bishop told journalists.

In June, Metropolitan Inokentiy defrocked four Lithuanian Orthodox priests. They claimed the move was made in retaliation to their criticism of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The Archdiocese also criticised the prime minister’s statements that Russian Orthodox Christians are a minority in Lithuania, saying that the Church has about 100,000 members and that Ukrainians also attend its services.

According to the statement, Šimonytė’s interview gives “the impression that the government lacks comprehensive and objective information about the activities of the Lithuanian Orthodox Church”.

“This gap could be filled by a constructive dialogue, which the leadership of the Lithuanian Orthodox Church has been urging the government to initiate since the beginning of the war in Ukraine,” it added.