Campaigns against Russian Orthodox Church will not silence it: Kirill

January 08, 2013: Despite all the campaigns against it, the Russian Orthodox Church is determined to live its mission, by not remaining "silent in the face of sin, lawlessness and injustice." So said Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia in an interview with Interfax on the eve of Orthodox Christmas, which was celebrated on Monday.

"Our whole community, the clergy and the active laity have no intention of throwing in the glove and stopping our work to promote moral values ​​and gospel principles in the lives of our people. We have no intention of stopping our missionary work, preaching and public activities", he said.

"We would not like to see our church silent in the face of sin, lawlessness and injustice. Some would prefer it to be less visible- not persecuted, not banned, not exiled. But reduced to folklore, an exotic ornament in the life of the people, but without any real influence on the minds and hearts of the people", added the Patriarch.

According to him "our society has become more sensitive to the word of Christ" and that's why there are people and groups who are trying to thwart the Church.

2012 was an "annus horribilis" for the Russian Orthodox patriarch and in particular, for a number of criticisms of its support for Vladimir Putin, culminating with the offense of Pussy Riot punk group who have exhibited in the sanctuary of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, resulting in a sentence for offenses against religion.

In his Christmas message, looking back at 2012, Kirill thanked God "for his great and rich mercy and the afflictions that he has helped us withstand. Throughout its entire history, the Church has never experienced long periods of well-being: after periods of peace and tranquility there were inevitable times of discord and tribulations. Yet in all circumstances the Church has proclaimed the truth of God, in word and deed, it proclaims it today testifying that a society based on the principles of profit, moral chaos, unlimited freedom, disdain for the eternal truths and the rejection of authority, is morally ill and threatened by many dangers."

In 2013, the Russian Orthodox Church will celebrate 1025th anniversary of the baptism of Prince Vladimir, which led to the "baptism of Rus',"The acceptance of the Christian faith - said Kirill in his message - marked the beginning of a new era in the life of our nation. "