Russian Orthodox Church publishes children's book in which it calls war a "God-pleasing" cause

In the aggressor country of Russia, a children's book titled "To Live is to Serve the Family" was published. It contains quotes from the Holy Scriptures, as well as "instructions of the holy fathers", which state that war is a "God-pleasing" thing, and any authority should be "obeyed".

The book appeared on the website of the Moscow Patriarchate Publishing House in the "children's books" section. It costs 600 rubles, and its editor-in-chief is Bishop Nikolai of Balashikha and Orikhovo-Zuevsk.

In 2008, he received an FSB award for a book about "the saints, patrons of the special forces."

The book's instructions say that the quotes included in the book "tune in to military everyday life and strengthen the will to win" and teach "how to get rid of resentment of injustice."

In particular, the book says that one should be "obedient to any human authority." "Every soul will be obedient to the higher authorities, for there is no authority that is not from God; the existing authorities are established by God. One must obey not only out of fear of punishment, but also out of conscience."

In addition, children are told that dying in war is a "God-pleasing" thing. However, it does not mention that Russia is waging a war of aggression against Ukraine, taking away its sovereign territories, destroying churches, schools, kindergartens, and killing civilians with missiles.

"Many people who have laid down their lives in the struggle will surely receive the remission of sins, and many will be crowned with the imperishable veins of the glory of heaven," the ROC book says.

There are also statements glorifying the occupying Russian army: "Glory to the Russian army. Blessed be the memory of the ascetics of the Fatherland who sacrificed their courage, art and life for it."

As OBOZ.UA previously reported, the Security Service of Ukraine served a notice of suspicion to Patriarch Vladimir Gundyaev (Kirill) of the Russian Orthodox Church. The offender supported Russia's full-scale aggression against Ukraine and "blessed" the occupiers to kill Ukrainians.

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