Reflections on Russia-Ukraine War — 2 years later

This is a repost of an article authored by a priest in the Orthodox Church of America whose wife is Ukrainian and still has family in Ukraine. The article was written two years ago, just as the war broke out, and as I read over it, it struck me how it could have easily been written yesterday. Truth is like that. It ages well. Below is an excerpt from his article, published February 25, 2022, under the title A Reflection on Ukraine, America, Russia, and War

By Fr. Zachariah Lynch

Few it seems have cared, up until now, that the faithful of Ukraine are being subjected to spiritual violence (which has manifested physically). Few it seems have cared that the Ecumenical Patriarchate is in open and full communion with unrepentant schismatics.

(To educate yourself on the Ukrainian government’s pernicious work to divide the Orthodox in that country and use one side to commit violence against the other, see my article from last year, U.S./NATO-funded proxy war in Ukraine fueling hatred, persecution of ancient Christian community.)

So spiritual violence has been ravaging Ukraine, and few have said much. We value a nominal “peace” above true peace, for true peace cannot be had in communion with false brethren. Now major physical violence is taking place, but what is worse for the soul, spiritual or material violence?

Could it be that the assault on the spiritual peace of Ukraine has affected its physical peace?

How many Americans have been aware that there has been an effective civil war in eastern Ukraine since 2014? How many of us were concerned when Ukrainians were shooting at and killing Ukrainians? Was that okay?

As an American, I will speak to my country. I’m not in Russia. I don’t support the attack. But, we, as Americans, should ask ourselves – is Russia doing anything much different than our own country has done? When in the 21st century alone have we “respected” other nations’ sovereign boards? (Look at our southern border at current!)

At the end of the 20th century, it was a US-led NATO that dismantled Yugoslavia. New borders, created by the US and friends, were established. These borders served US interests. Let us look at the Middle East, when did we respect borders there? The US has stated and acted upon the notion – if a leader is deemed bad and against “freedom and democracy,” it is a duty to overthrow such a leader and carve up the country as the Western powers see fit. When we do it, it is “good.” When Russia does the same thing, it is bad. (Again I’m not justifying anything, I’m making an analogy.) The US government is the epitome of the pot calling the kettle black, as are most of the European powers. Let us as Americans reflect that in this century alone our government waged almost none stop war since 2001. The US government has been in conflict with some countries or states for two decades. If we go back and count the years starting from the end of World War II, the number of years of war or conflict involving the US government is much more than the number of years with no conflict. And we are going to lecture the world on peace? All that to say, we are guilty of the very things we accuse Russia of doing. I guess that is called hypocrisy. The finger we are pointing at Russia is dripping with blood. Maybe we should wash our own hands first.

I’m an American. I honor my country, but I do not support the agenda of war and violence driving much of foreign policy. I’m very grieved by it. Let us take care of our own house first. As in many places, I do not think the government always reflects the people. I think most people want peace and to live their daily lives in calm. Sadly, there are many in power who are hell-bent on stirring up conflict and trouble for the world and people at large. We should also realize that US foreign policy has also played a role in cultivating the current events in Ukraine.

I think that a part of what is transpiring is the typical distraction tactic. The Covid crisis has revealed that the “free” West is not as “free” as it claims. Many Western countries went full dictator mode, thus revealing their true colors. Oh, yes, of course, to keep us all safe because they care for us from their million-dollar mansions. America is in deep crisis and turmoil, much of it fed by certain agendas that are actively seeking to encourage fear, hatred, and division. Our own house is tumbling and corroding away. Oh, but look! That dastardly Putin! He’s a new Hitler. I guess it takes one to know one. In America, the attempt is being made to distract us again. And yes some are insane enough to pursue a war with Russia to do so. I don’t know how far the events will go, but I do know from history that war is a great distraction and even a wonderful tool for “rebuilding” the world.

Of course, one could wander down the labyrinth of geopolitical agendas. I’m familiar with a number of them. I won’t do that right now. The historic discrimination of the Western world against Orthodoxy could be noted as an aspect also. But that is a big subject.

In closing to this my few thoughts, I will return to the spiritual aspect.

What can we as Christians do? Repent. Russia, for all its problems, is not our enemy.

Have we in America repented of the many wars and atrocities perpetrated in the name of our country? Should we not start there? Are we repenting for the “legal” slaughter of babies in their mother’s womb? Are we repenting for the open promotion, in the name of our country, of numerous forms of debauchery and immorality? Are we repenting for the epidemic of drug abuse and suicide in our nation? Are we repenting for being the top exporter of corrosive “culture” and “values?” Are we repenting for the destruction of the family and the explosion of divorce, adultery, fornication, and porn? This list could go on. It seems our own house is full of enemies.

Read the entire article here.

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13 thoughts on “Reflections on Russia-Ukraine War — 2 years later”

  1. Yes, though nearly 2 years old, that message is right. I still can’t help recalling the biolabs in Ukraine, and wondering if Putin is going to destroy them? How many people in Russia actually took the jab?–betting very few! And I am always suspicious of “Christians” of any flavor, who took it.

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  2. In my opinion the Biden administration wants America in a war with Russia. I don’t understand why. Do they believe they can install someone to replace Putin? Is there a mad lust for power. Or maybe the globalists are using Biden to implement their agenda against Putin.

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  3. Our government left no stone unturned in finding ways to subvert Ukraine. I remember seeing in 2014 on a television newscast a brief video of Biden meeting with the Ukrainian schismatic “bishops” when the conflict over the Ukrainian Orthodox schism was at its hottest. Why did this western apostate to any religion, including his own, find it necessary to fly to Ukraine to meet personally with these schismatics? It showed the extent of Western interference in an eastern country’s affairs, to turn religion into a weapon against the true Orthodox jurisdiction and against the people. Afterwards, many Orthodox churches were attacked and pillaged by the schismatics, who last year took over even the famous monastery in Kiev, forcibly expelling its rightful inhabitants. Numerous priests and monks have been imprisoned by the Zelensky regime, which accused them of being spies for Moscow.

    And it’s terrible that Bartholomew, Patriarch of Constantinople (otherwise known as the Ecumenical Patriarchate) has taken the side of the schismatics. For shame! But that’s not unusual for him because he and some of his modern predecessors of that patriarchate act unilaterally, and not in council with the whole Church, as is required. Accordingly, the modern Constantinople patriarchate are very often trotted out for ecumenical dog and pony shows at the Vatican, because this patriarch does not represent Eastern Orthodox interests, but western, globalist ones.

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    1. Amen. Well said, Kayjae. This is an angle that very few Westerners are aware of and they are not interested in becoming aware. That is evident from the number of reads on this article and the one other article I did last year on the issue. Even my readers, who are way more intelligent than the typical American, have zero interest in learning about how the West has worked behind the scenes to divide and weaponize the Orthodox Christians. If the globalists will go to that length to infiltrate, subvert and weaponize religious sects in Ukraine how much further would they be willing to go in here in America when hostilities boil over among the wider population?

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      1. Leo, I have been thinking about this angle. I’m going to try to express my thoughts and hope no one takes it wrong or gets insulted. I believe warmongers do infiltrate religious factions and instigate conflict. That said, I mean to include religious sects in America. I realize all Christians don’t share the same views on the timing of the rapture. Ok, that’s fine, but recently, some well known so called evangelicals have taken to calling people who have a pretribulation view “cultists” and saying the pretribulation view is from the pit of Hell. I’ve never heard such hostility before. Why now? Is it possible this is an intentionally created discord? I think so.

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  4. Pingback: Reflections on Russia-Ukraine War — 2 years later – altnews.org

  5. Right, and we will never fully know the truth unless we are both in the situation and behind closed doors as a fly on the wall of the governments involved. One day all will be revealed. It is beyond our control. We can pray of course and even fast. It is tricky when it comes to who is ‘the enemy.’ There is so much propaganda about these things it is wise to not get swept away by all the hysteria. There are countries where both the government and a majority of the citizens hate the US and want us destroyed. They would be an enemy. Then there are countries where it is only the government but not the people so much, or even vice versa. The bottom line is we live in a fallen world full of sinful man. There are two kingdoms. The saved and the unsaved. And many who claim to be Christians often are not. But that is where the battle lines really are. The rest is just the details. I tend to not look at the world as ‘enemies’ but rather as converts and potential converts. Jesus said to love our enemies. Just look at what happened to Saul of Tarsus who became Paul the Apostle. You never know who is next. The worst enemy today can get saved and be the best Christian tomorrow. Jesus said to be occupied with the Great Commission. The Gospel is the only solution to all the world’s problems. If more were busy with that we would have a much better world anyway. I keep busy with that and I don’t meddle with all this other stuff. Folks can react any way they wish but that’s my choice.

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  6. “In all history there is no war which was a not hatched by the governments, the governments alone, independent of the interests of the people, to whom war is always pernicious even when successful.”
    –Leo Tolstoy

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  7. “How many Americans have been aware that there has been an effective civil war in eastern Ukraine since 2014?”
    Many are still unaware as if all this began two years ago when Putin, for reasons known only to him, pulled the trigger. From that starting point, a rational discussion is impossible. It’s like debating biology with someone who does not understand the definition of ‘woman.’ Discussion is stopped before it can start.

    Many, most probably, are equally unaware of the religious aspect. There are people who still think Russia is communist, including some in Congress. Others have convinced themselves that Putin is bent on attacking Europe, even though has not done anything of the kind during more than two decades in power.

    It’s still possible to hold multiple thoughts at once. One can believe that Putin is an authoritarian, and Zelenskyy is killing his own country, and the US had a big hand in triggering this conflict and perpetuating it. All three statements can be true. They can. But good luck convincing the convinced.

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  8. Indeed, “the US government is the epitome of the pot calling the kettle black”. By the way, China has been growing POT in America….

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  9. No other country should be involved in their mess, these two countrys have sqabbled for many years and it is none of our business what they do between them. Even by selling Ukraine arms we are meddling.

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