ROCOR & The War in Ukraine (English version)
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- čas přidán 10. 03. 2022
- Visit our website: coffeewithsistervassa.com.
In this video, Dr. Sr. Vassa Larin talks about the war in Ukraine, based on her experience of growing up in the ROCOR, the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia.
Dearest Sister (and sister) Vassa! I am a Ukrainian Catholic woman who has often watched your videos and absorbed there the humble yet profound wisdom tinged with such delightful humour. With this message, you have reached a new level of love of brother and sister, of kindness and compassion. You are a true daughter of your nation and I pray that your words may resonate with those who continue to be blind to the truth of what is happening in Ukraine. Thank you for your strength to speak out!
Thank you for your conscience, your compassion and your courage in speaking out.
Thank you Sister Vassa for your courage in speaking the truth.
Thank you for speaking out with such clarity and honesty on this matter. As a rocor parishioner I needed to hear this.
Thank you very much very true very well explained exspesholy the way Putin said zdohnot means will die like animals that's the way Putin treating people like animals killing them children pregnant women older people innocent civilians thank u sister for speaking out the truth
Do the opposite of what the evil is pushing us to do...refuse to hate the Russian people. refuse to buy into the hurtful sanctions on the poor people. Pray for, support the ones the "world" tells you to forget.... God bless youIt is clear that an extensive list of companies are boycotting Russia. I see a common thread with most of these companies. While In reality, the average poor citizens will be the real victims of this, I am trying to find businesses to support, those who didn't abandon the average Russian worker. Thank you kindly for any help.
Who said anything about hating Russian people? I love Russians people but they are ruled by a moral imbecile. I very reluctantly support sanctions because inaction would be wicked and derelict.
Христос Воскресе! I have watched this for the first time this Bright Week. As a son of ROCOR my heart has been bleeding for this war and the comparative silence on this subject from our leaders .
I am glad to hear you speak of it so clearly. God bless your service.
Congratulations sr. Vassa!
May the presence and the mercy of God be with you!
Thank you Sister for your forthright way of speaking about this issue! As a member of the Orthodox Church in America, which has Russian roots, I am so deeply sorry for what has come about. There was one point where we were so disgruntled about what was happening in the US that we admired Putin for his supposed “orthodoxy” and wished we could move to Russia. Well, no more! This is all most despicable, and rather than uselessly chide Putin, I point the finger at myself for not placing all my trust in The Kingdom of God. We Orthodox, many of us, have some repenting to do. Our Church, while still bearing the Truth of Christ, is in disarray because of this thing.
We all need to repent. Thank you Mathew for you kind remark
This comment is beautiful! I think a lot of Christian people (Orthodox or not) want to put their trust in princes and sons of men instead of Christ. They believe they need human leaders to keep them in a comfortable place of influence and privilege and to “defend the faith.” Jesus is the King and His Kingdom is not of this world. We are called to mercy and peacemaking, not trying to use Christianity as a pawn to build an earthly empire. I have seen (and still see) a lot of Orthodox idealizing Putin and the Russian government . I have seen people do the same with certain American politicians… as though all these politicians and power players are the only thing holding our Christian values and Christianity together and therefore all kinds of evil can be overlooked “for the greater good.” This is not the Gospel of Jesus.
you fell for pornographic media of the empire of lies rather than investigating all sides. You can be forgiven
I can see your sadness, Sister. As a byzantine Catholic, I thank you for your bravery and heart. Hugs to you!
I listened to all, and thank you Sr Vassa for bravely speaking truth. Prayers for Ukraine.....and for the suffering Russian people. Much love.
Thank you for the truth, sister
Blessed be dear Sister Vassa
Thank you so much, Sister Vassa!
Thank you so much Sr. Vassa!
Thank you sister Vassa, your bravery, sincerity and dedication to truth is a beacon of light in these dark dark times.
Once again we find a woman showing us men how to be manly! Thank you sister for your courage and willingness to speak the truth. Love and absolute admiration from an OCA parishioner. God grant you many years and may His grace br poured out on you abundantly.
Thank you for making this video.
Let us pray for Ukraine and the young russian soldiers sent into this cruel war without preperatiions far away from their families and their home. Let us pray for the children, the youth, the old ones and the sick people in Ukraine who can not flee from their country. Let us pray for the churches in Ukraine, no weather If they are orthodox, catholik or protestant.
Tomorrow, we celebrate the triumph of Orthodoxy. Frankly, we should be repenting of the failure of Orthodoxy.
@@irenesupica7449 As a protestant I have to say, you are a little bit too hard with your church. All churches had very bad times in their history. And all churches need God's mercy and love. We all have to confess our sins. God bless you and your familiy. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Thank you for your voice! So needed and appreciated that you are standing up- so glad to hear it. Sad that not many have spoken up. Please keep Ukriane in your prayers!
Thank you Sister Vassa. I've been struggling for so long with everything that is happening between the russian and ecumenical patriarchates over Ukraine. I heard the arguments from both sides. I joined and then unjoined many facebook and you tube channels. In the end, where I landed was that the russian patriarchate was the one that stopped communion with the greek churches. Even if we assume that they are absolutely right in everything, that decision was not justified. Are we forgetting who we are following? Christ, and all the saints, time and time again show us the way. I watched recently the movie "man of God". St Nectarios was truly absolutely right in everything. How differently though he behaved!
The Russian Church had no choice but to break communion with Constantinople over the recognition of schismatics in Ukraine. The decision was wholly justified by the canons of our Church. There was already a canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church there, and there can't be two of them... the schismatics have defrocked and excommunicated priests and bishops among their clergy. This is a very serious matter. We all hope this is a temporary break in communion and that the issue can be somehow resolved in the future.
@@sweettendercharles1556 On the contrary my dear brother in Christ, there is always a choice, the choice of the cross
@@rinihazelnut9944 What I mean by that is this - when we are Orthodox, we submit our own will, our own "choice" to that of the Church, of the Holy Spirit. The Church has a number of canons which we do not have a "choice" to follow or not - we simply do it, and there are many reasons for this, and if you are Orthodox, I surely don't have to explain it to you. If you consider the entire history of the Orthodox Church, you will see many hundreds of cases in which one local Church had to cease communion with another one - temporarily - in order to protect the faith and bring order to some kind of scandal or heresy that was troubling her. This is no different. I will certainly not defend everything the Russian Church has done, but in this case, they truly did have no choice - the canons were and are very clear. There are not two Ukrainian Orthodox Churches, or three - there is one. A schismatic group, in communion with no other Church, abruptly received "autocephaly" from a Church (Constantinople) that had no jurisdiction over that territory. It was a grossly uncanonical move, and therefore, until the matter is resolved, communion had to be broken in order to not bring the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church into communion with schismatics on its territory. This is a gravely serious issue. Please try to understand this.
@@sweettendercharles1556 I encourage you to hear also the other side of the story in this video by a prof of canon law czcams.com/video/jAZzxYXB7z4/video.html, but TBH all arguments from both sides are secondary. What bothers me is the stopping of communion. I can see taking such an extreme measure if it was a matter of dogma, but not for canons...my crandle orthodox compass tells me there is something really wrong with that
@@rinihazelnut9944 Antioch and Jerusalem are not in communion with one another currently. Do you know why? Intrusion of one Church onto another Church's territory. This is a common thing that has happened, as I said, many many times in our Church history. As for the video that you sent me, I will be very interested to watch it, but it seems to be about Russia setting up their own exarchate in Africa - this is separate issue (which I don't support, by the way). The issue at hand is the granting of "autocephaly" to a schismatic outfit, and the necessity to break communion with Constantinople, temporarily, while this issue is hopefully being resolved.
Thank you for this clarity
Thank you, Sister
Thank you Sister.
Thankyou sister Vasa..this was very informative
I was byzantine catholic and now ROCOR. I'm home .
Curious place ("ROCOR and The War in Ukraine") to make such an announcement...Was there any significance to this placement like, are you "now ROCOR" and for the war against Ukraine or "now ROCOR" and against the war against Ukraine?
Thank you Sr. Vassa for your courage in speaking out regarding the situation in Ukraine! Although I am a Protestant, I enjoy you and your podcasts very much. Your dry sense of humor is delightful. May the Lord bless and keep you.
I am a Roman Catholic here near Detroit. This Sister has a way of reaching everyone!
@@vadermasktruth Become Eastern Orthodox Christian both of you
Thank you for telling the truth. I hope you will not be punished for this.
These are very clear and straight words from sister Vasa. Thank you so much for these clear words! I will pray for sister Vasa. May God Almighty protect her and all Russians who belive in God's love and mercy for all people all over the world.
Thank you Sister Vassa
We enjoy your videos. Please post more often.
Thanks
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on this!! God bless you!!
Thank you for being so brave for all of us who are silent but grieving for Ukraine inside….
Thank you so very much for speaking truth to power! May God be with all people who are innocent. I have family 40 miles south of Kyiv. I pray numerous times a day for the people of Ukraine and Russia who are aware of the truth. Much love and appreciation from California!❤️🕊🌈🍀🙏😇❣️
I am a former Roman Catholic now becoming a Orthodox catechumen in Rocor. i know its sad to see everything happening and seeing church leaders not being strong and we see this within Eastren orthodoxy. But its not my plelace to point fingers etc... But what i will say i will prayer that faith grow stronger in our church leaders and do and say what they must no matter the costs. I will pray for the Ukrainians who are suffering so much as well i will pray for the whole eastren orthodox church. But i thank God that i have been lead to the true faith and has been given a good Rocor priest. I prayer for true unity withhout compromise. I am sorry if i said wrong or offended anyone. I just want to come home.
Please understand that when you become an Orthodox Christian, you are an ORTHODOX Christian, not a "Russian Orthodox" Christian. Please don't let Russian nationalist identity and identity politics take you off the Royal Path. May God bless your journey Home!
Holy Theotukus will be weeping at this fratricicide.
Already is weeping, I feel sure!
Thank you Sister for your clear-eyed and original analysis of the paranoid Russian mindset. No one else I’ve heard makes the connections and speaks from knowledge of the subject as well as you do. As an Orthodox person this means a lot to me to hear a voice from within ROCOR speaking the sad truth.
Thank You your words. As a newly baptized Christian in the Orthodox Church ( ROCOR), it it seems the best things I can do right now are to be penitent, prayerful, sober, vigilant, and have a readiness to to give and serve in any capacity I can. Господи, помилуй. - Adam Benedict (Diocese of Chicago & Middle America).
@@Kyriakyriaki-onlyaservant Thank You for your words. May Almighty God Have Mercy on us!
Thank you. I totally agree. However why hasn’t the world spoken out in such force about other similar situations, Rwanda, Georgia etc?
Internet.
Thank you, Sister Vassa. Yours is the first Russian Orthodox voice I have heard crying out against the barbarous aggression of the Russian state against the people of Ukraine. Слава Україні! Слава українським героям!
Dear Lord. We really are living in the end times.
THANK YOU SO MUCH SISTER. FOR YEARS YOU'VE BEEN BLESSING US WITH WISDOM AND FACTS. MAY THE LORD REWARD YOU
Hello Sister Vassa, how does one greet a Russian Orthodox nun in Russian? In Greek, we say Evlogite, or in Serbian, Blagoslovite. What would it be in Russian? Thank you and Blessed Lent!
“The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crises.” Dante
I honor you for speaking out so eloquently, beloved Sister. We are grateful to you as Orthodox Christians and we ardently pray for the Ukrainian people, our brothers in Christ. Lord have mercy.
Very well thought out and presented. Thank you for saying what needs to be said.
Waiting to hear your honest beautiful voice!!!
Thank you so much for speaking the truth!! Blessings to you!
Brava! Kudos for your courage! If only the Patriarch and some of his peers had the fortitude to speak truth to power. Somebody had to say it, and you did.
Blessings. Gospodi pomiluj. Gospodi pomiluj. Gospodi pomiluj.
Thank you Sister Vassa. It is indeed a blessing to hear you speak these truths with great courage. My grandparents all came to the USA from Russia and Poland to escape the Bolsheviks, so these events are deeply disturbing to my soul. I was raised Roman Catholic but was Chrismated almost 3 years ago into the Greek Orthodox Church (with Archimandrite Hovorun officiating along with my Priest!). I am praying for both you and Father Hovorun. A blessed Lent to you Sister Vassa.
Спасибо, сестра Васса!
Привет из столицы Австии)
ROCOR has lost its way because of the reunification. The fall of the Soviet Union did not represent the full repentance and the abandonment of Sergianism that ROCOR used to call for. It should be clear for everyone; things are not the same as when Metropolitan Philaret, Archbishop Averky, Fr. Seraphim Rose, and many others were around.
Thank you for speaking truth to power sister Vassa
Thank you, Sr. Vassa for your courageous statements. I am sure it was very difficult. I find myself sharing your lament and weeping.
Is that a toilet bowl brush on the bookcase behind you? Apart from that, I agree with your statements.
Toilet brushes became a symbol of opposition to the corruption of the Putin regime, when it came out that a toilet brush was purchased for one of his palaces for several hundred euros.
Dear Sister , I appreciate you!!! (I am not Rocor but for my part you are my sister) The picture of Putin at the end of a long table is astonishing. I wonder- could one explanation be that Putin could be immunocompromised and maybe taking steroid medication (can really cause heightened aggression. He has never been a nice guy obviously, but maybe he is cracked...? Just a thought. But anyway, you are so right that when things go wrong in this world, it always gets back to we Christians are not doing our job. Lord have Mercy.
No one from ROCOR hierarchs had the courage to say the truth, thank you sister.
Thank you for your thoughts on this matter.
Just to be clear: What is the official stance of ROCOR in this war? Does ROCOR condemn Putin and his actions explictly and openly or not? What about Krill?
Thank you! (Sorry to ask, i didn't have time to watch the whole video , i am just searching for the answer).
This is stating the obvious, but the “R” in ROCOR stands for Russian after all. Persons thinking about joining or staying within ROCOR need to keep this in mind and figure how much of this jurisdiction’s Russian identity and Russian identity politics they can take on as additional freight - on top of the already heavy burden of taking up one’s Cross in this world.
We realized that we could not carry water for Putin and take up our Crosses at the same time.
With broken hearts, my family has left the ROCOR because of its tacit support of the war, this putinist jihad.
Thank you so much, Sister!
God bless you my dear Sister
Bless you for being truthful Sister Vassa. Thankyou. Standing with you.
Thank you very much for your clear words.
"O Lord Jesus Christ our God, forgive our iniquities. Through the intercessions of Thy most pure Mother, save the suffering Russian people from the yoke of the godless authority. Amen." At least we can still pray this out of the ROCOR "Jordanville Prayer Book." Or has this prayer been excised from a more current version?
I cannot express my gratitude enough Suster Vassa; Thank you! I was hoping and looking forward to your perspective, and pray that it will be shared far and wide. Слава Україні! 🙏❣✌
For sure, inn your comfort you forget there is no abiding city, and no where to lay one's head! War is tragic, but every side can justify their positions in our fallen state. If we were in God's grace, no one would be talking about causes, but only helping with the love of God. Black is worn for a reason, and Cleary we see why! Peace!
Thank you for speaking out. Those of us in the Orthodox church need to speak truth to power! It is hard to hear our own people parrotting Putins words in church. May God forgive us and protect the people of Ukraine and the faithful of Russia who do dare to speak out.
Meduza has reported that Patriarch Kirill of Moscow banned Yoann Koval, a cleric in a Moscow church, from services after parishioners denounced him. The priest had replaced the word “victory” with “peace” while reciting the prayer “Holy Rus,” which the Russian Orthodox Church distributed as a mandatory reading in September 2022.
The Patriarch of Constantinople has reinstated Russian priest Father Ioann Koval from Moscow’s Church of St. Andrew who was punished for replacing the word “victory” with “peace” in his prayer.
Do any of the Orthodox Churches preach praying the Holy Rosary? Simply curious not wanted to argue. Merry Christmastide.
Hey there, typically Orthodox Christians use knotted prayer ropes to pray and count their recitations of the Jesus Prayer. God bless :)
Your are so clear, articulate and without judgement you speak in His Light. Prayers that God grants you many years
Thank you, Sister Vassa!
Thank you so much Sr. Vassa! Imagine the Patriarch taking to the streets and calling for a stop to the war and love for enemies, it would be a witness of Christian love that would be remembered for decades...instead this.
God bless you.
Lord have mercy upon us...
St. Nicholas of Myra Orthodox Church in McHenry, IL left the ROCOR to join the OCA in April 2023. More than half of the congregants are recent Ukrainian immigrants who fled the Russian invasion of their country. The parish includes a mix of Ukrainian, Russian, Serbian and Moldavian immigrants, as well as Americans. They left because they could not in good Christian conscience commemorate the Patriarch of Moscow as required by the ROCOR. Is there any room left in the ROCOR for Ukrainians, Russians, and other Orthodox Christians who are against the MP's "blessed" war against Ukraine?
The Light shineth in the darkness
Thank you. Well spoken.
Lord have mercy on us. Thank you Sr Vassa,
Thank you Sister Vassa.
Great words, thank you very much!
Thank you Sr. Vassa, the fact you speak out matters! ❤❤❤
да благословит вас Бог за ваши слова...спасибо
Thank you, we really need it. That one Picture of Putin and the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church together before the Ikon of the Theotokos is disturbing. Though I know that Our Lady is able to defend herself.
Jesus is the Key 💖
Is the Russian language version of this word for word the same? The points you make with the photo with lavrov and the table, as well as the clip of Putin talking about going to heaven if they die... These need to be given to the Russians in their language with your wise words.
Thank you, Sister Vassa! We do hope this video will open eyes to lots of people! Please hold our Ukraine in your prayers!
Thank you Sister Vassa for clear biblical and church truth as well as speaking truth in love and humility. If more Orthodox Christians and leaders would speak up without fear surely this war would come to an end sooner. I am utterly dismayed by the actions of the Russian Patriarchy supporting the dictatorial actions of President Putin both prior to this unjustified war in Ukraine and the present war crimes being committed. How can one justify the murder of babies, children, women and the elderly? This is such a devastating loss in the Orthodox Church of innocent human beings, a desecration of the sanctity of human life, and not to speak of our witness as Christians to a lost and dying world. I cling to the truth that God will triumph over this evil and He can and does bring good out of all in the end. Blessings to you for your bravery in speaking out with truth and humility. Continuing prayers are with you especially during the Lenten season as we join with our Lord in bearing up our cross, fighting this spiritual combat, so that we can arrive at Christ’s holy resurrection.
Thank you Sister Vassa for this video. Speaking truth to Power is so important! Orthodox Christians should not be fighting against other Orthodox Christians. Shame on Putin for unleashing this evil war, and shame on those specific leaders in the Church who are remaining silent.
Thank you very much for this. However- with regard to de-Nazification, I think that the alleged ‘Nazis’ have as their target ethnic Russians, rather than Jews. If that is so, simply stating that zalinsky is Jewish does not of itself address the issue. How do we rebut the claim that , especially in Donbas, there has been anti-Russian violence?
The term “Nazi” is a bit annoying to use. It would be better if Putin just called them neo-liberals.
Ukraine for Ukrainians does not ring with
EU Human Rights for All humans !?
@Dustin Neely I know. All of Ukraine’s majority governments since Maidan have been neo-liberal. Poroschenko is a neoliberal. Zhelensky is a neoliberal. I judge by the majority and not outliers. Parties like Right Sector are fringe groups in Ukrainian electoral politics.
Can you provide a link to the Russian version please
czcams.com/video/hNwP5vovn9s/video.html
Thank you, Sr Vassa, for speaking the truth, including about the shameful behavior of the Russian Church in Africa. These things needed to be said. May God give you strength!
Much gratitude for your honesty, your faith, and your bravery. Slava Ukraini!
Thanks for speaking the truth, I am so distressed by ROCOR clergy repeating Putin's lies. This is not the church I grew up in. I cannot go to ROCOR services any more.
Sister.... This video is precisely why I take the advice of nuns VERY seriously. Your courage and your honesty inspire me to grow in Christ.
I pray for the land of my ancestors, Saint Vladimir I Sviatoslavich the Great, my 32nd great grandfather, Uroslav the Wise of Kiev, my 31st great grandfather, As well as my RUSSIAN ANCESTORS, Saint Anna of Novgorod, my 31st great grandmother...and all the others! They are crying in Heaven, I am SURE. They are shaking the rafters of the temple of Heaven at the tremendous cruelty against the people of Ukraine.
Thank you for expressing the Truth and letting people know that ROCOR, just because it has Russian roots, does not justify the cruelty of Putin's war against the innocent people of Ukraine. Lord have mercy on us all.
Also, thank you for bringing up the state of mind of Putin, who is behaving in a paranoid fashion. He is acting like a cult leader. He is a dictator. Lord save us all.
Putin is a Christian whereas Zhelensky is not.
Dear sister,
my compliments and thanks for your testimony of courage and love, which so well represent the spirit of those gospel teachings that are attributed to Jesus (to be true, not to succumb to the powers of the world, to live in goodness...).
May your example of life encourage many others!
God bless you for you speaking truth to power.
Where are the ROCOR bishops condemning this aggressive war? Is this the same jurisdiction that canonized the New Martyrs? Doesn't seem like it.
No ! It is not the same juridiction. This one is under MP, the historical ROCOR was against!
I remember the "old" ROCOR and it's integrity. Metropolitans Anastasius, Philaret, and Vitaly. These men were brave heroes.
They would never permit the evil Krill to be mentioned in church services What a terrible sin on the parishioners to ENTER into communion with the Devil.Bishop laurus must be turning in his grave that ROCOR has not acknowledged the crime of unification
…so the Germans can relax… Your inner Norm Macdonald is showing Sr. Vassa. A worthy homage.
Venerable Sister, I admire your pure courage and honesty. Thank you, Sister for the voice of rational argumentation in this chaos and internet propaganda. May God have mercy on us and the whole world.
I am not Orthodox but I am a Christian and my faith community aligns in many ways with the doctrines of Orthodoxy. So I enjoy listening to you and learning about the Orthodox church. I did not know (but not surprised) the Russian church is supporting Putin. I am reminded of the scripture that we can not have two masters. It would seem to me that it is incongruent that the Orthodox church aligns itself, in name, to a particular nation. That would seem to infer an allegiance not only to God but to the particular nation. Which then makes one allegiant to both God and state. Strange bedfellows, indeed. We are aliens in this world no matter our national origin. I am glad you have spoken truth about this terrible wat. May God preserve and bless you.