News

Those of us who left are often accused of being unfairly didactic, even condescending, toward those who had to remain in Russia and continue living within its present reality. Over these years, I have come across hundreds, if not thousands, of social-media posts, short videos, and entire segments offering advice, issuing appeals, and sometimes making accusations. And they have always left me with the same sense of sadness. Because there has always been one difficult and painful answer to all...

Oct 19, 2026

Editor’s note. We wanted to illustrate this story with a photograph of the award ceremony—and came across a curious detail. The Order of Glory and Honor, First Class, is Kadyrov’s first major award from the Russian Orthodox Church, while the Patriarchate’s official statement merely says that he was to be “awarded” the order and makes no mention of any in-person ceremony. Meanwhile, images have appeared online showing the Patriarch personally pinning a decoration on Kadyrov—for example, in...

Oct 12, 2026

On September 5, 2026, the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) announced a joint fundraising campaign with International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), aiming to raise $50,000 to support Ukrainian refugees in Poland. On October 7, the OCA published another announcement featuring Metropolitan Tikhon's appeal, reminding readers that donations were still welcome. The OCA is an independent Orthodox Church rooted in the Russian Orthodox tradition. It received autocephaly from the Moscow...

Oct 10, 2026

Today, October 7, Medeu District Court No. 2 of Almaty found Hieromonk Yakov (Vorontsov) guilty in a case concerning the illegal acquisition and possession, without intent to distribute, of an analogue of a psychotropic substance on a particularly large scale. The court sentenced him to six years in prison. Taking into account an amnesty, the sentence was reduced by one third to four years. In addition, the court ordered the clergyman to pay 86,500 tenge to the Victim Compensation Fund and...

Oct 7, 2026

In September, the 2026 Democracy Awards ceremony of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) was held at Mount Vernon, the historic estate of George Washington. The “Mir Vsem” (“Peace Unto All”) project was among this year’s award recipients — recognized for supporting Russian anti-war clergy, defending freedom of conscience, and assisting those who face pressure and repression for publicly opposing the war. In 2026, the award is dedicated to the 250th anniversary of the United States and...

Sep 11, 2026

“In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old” (Amos 9:11). Following the Russian invasion, Ukrainian churches shared the fate of the people. Death and destruction know no denominational or jurisdictional preferences: more than 700 churches and houses of prayer have been destroyed or damaged, with over half of them being Orthodox churches. We believe that the...

Jul 30, 2026

Recently, calls to use nuclear weapons against Ukraine and European countries have been heard with increasing frequency in Russia. Despite the rhetoric that "the West is waging war against Russia," it is impossible to imagine similar statements being made by European politicians and public figures regarding Russia. We are convinced that the normalization of "nukes" is a consequence of the political, diplomatic, and moral degradation of the Putin regime, under which perpetrators face no...

Jul 14, 2026

The ''Peace Unto All'' Project Has Been Named a Recipient of the 2026 Democracy Award. The Democracy Award is an annual honor presented by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) to recognize individuals and organizations defending human rights, freedom of conscience, and human dignity under conditions of persecution and pressure. This year, the 'Peace Unto All' project is among the laureates. According to the official NED announcement, following the start of Russia's full-scale war...

Jun 25, 2026

On the night of June 14–15, a massive strike on Kyiv triggered a large-scale fire at the Dormition Cathedral of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. The exact extent of the damage and destruction is currently being assessed. Photo: RBC Ukraine This tragedy occurred immediately after the Russian Orthodox Church celebrated the feast of the "Saints of the Russian Land," including those who founded the Lavra and led ascetic lives there since the 11th century—the Saint Anthony and Theodosius of the Caves. As...

Jun 15, 2026

We, the associations Russie-Libertés (France), Rusos Libres (Spain), and Mir Vsem (Friede Allen e.V.) (Germany), express our deep concern regarding the appointment of Metropolitan Mark (Golovkov) to serve in France. Metropolitan Mark (Golovkov) In accordance with the decision of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church dated 12 March 2026, Metropolitan Mark has been appointed head of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Western Europe, which unites the dioceses and parishes of the Moscow...

May 13, 2026