At the 25th session of the All-World Russian People's Council, Kirill Gundyaev, the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church (which could be dubbed as Secretary General due to his role at this ‘church’ of retired KGB-ists), declared the commencement of a sacred crusade against the rise of globalism and what he termed as the ‘Satanic West.’ In a word, he hinted at a new crusade. "Apostrophe" sought to uncover the objectives of such an amazing initiative.
On withholders and holders
The World Russian People's Council resembles the Soviet Union's Council of People's Deputies but with a pronounced religious inclination. Established in 1993, the Council convenes clergy from traditional faiths, politicians, public figures, representatives from academia, culture, education, and military leadership. Between its congress meetings, the Council's affairs are overseen by the presidium, with the head of the Russian Orthodox Church serving as its chairman per the statute.
Thus, at the 25th jubilee conciliar congress themed 'The Present and Future of the Russian World,’ a final document titled ‘Order’ was adopted. In this document, Russia is explicitly referred to as a ‘catechon, a term derived from Greek meaning ‘that which withholds.’ In Christian tradition, a catechon is a historical entity tasked with averting the ultimate victory of evil, delaying the arrival of the Antichrist, and postponing the end of the world.
‘From a spiritual and moral standpoint, a special military operation (war against Ukraine – Apostrophe) assumes the character of a holy war, wherein Russia and its populace, safeguarding the unified spiritual domain of Holy Russia, assume the mantle of a 'withholder.' This mission involves shielding the world from the encroachment of globalism and the triumph of the West, perceived as succumbing to Satanism. The historical imperative lies in thwarting recurrent endeavors aimed at establishing global hegemony—a bid to subject humanity to a singular malevolent force,’ Kirill Gundyaev said.
However, Gundyaev's stance appears somewhat diminished. As early as the late 19th century, Russian Orthodoxy had already embraced the notion that only the Russian tsar possessed the capability to hold back the forces precipitating the Apocalypse—the tsar being the ‘withholder.’ Hence, Putin could have promptly declared his role as a catechon, why not. Nonetheless, the culmination of the Russian ‘holy war’ could potentially spell trouble for the civilized world.
Gundyaev unequivocally stated, "Upon the conclusion of its special military operation, the entirety of modern Ukrainian territory ought to fall within the exclusive sphere of Russia's influence."
Painful search for an idea
Similar declarations by Russian Orthodox clerics primarily indicate the profound erosion of the Russian national ethos, or more accurately, the inherent difficulty in its conceptualization. It is challenging to speak of the collapse of something that never materialized.
‘The notion of a "Russian peace" once existed, wherein Ukrainians were perceived as kin, forming a distinct component of this peace. However, with the annexation of Crimea and the occupation of parts of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, this concept crumbled. A new, ultra-nationalist idea emerged, asserting that there are only Russians, and Ukrainians are merely a sub-ethnicity of the Russian people, akin to Cossacks, Pomors, and Siberians. The mere existence of Ukrainians was framed as a form of genocide against Russians. As early as 2018, Kirill's visit to Bartholomew underscored this perspective, challenging the existence of a Ukrainian people – ‘Who do you give Tomos to? There is no Ukrainian people!’. However, this narrative faltered, and following February 24, 2022, a new idea emerged: only Russians will purportedly rescue the world from Satan on the brink of the Apocalypse,’Lyudmyla Fylypovych, head of the Department of Philosophy and History of Religion at the H.Skovoroda Institute of Philosophy, tells Apostrophe.
In her opinion, this approach indicates the last stage before the final collapse of Russia.
‘This represents their final recourse, born out of desperation. It echoes conversations that transpired prior to the 1917 revolution,’ Fylypovych said.
The proclamation of an eschatological war, one preceding the Apocalypse, ultimately provided Russians with a clear delineation of their grievances against Ukraine.
‘Until now, the goals of the war remained opaque to the Russian people. Previous justifications included demilitarization, denazification, countering crackheads, and protecting the Donbas population. However, clarity emerged with the declaration of the intention to overcome the West, depicted as succumbing to Satanism and backing the criminal regime in Kyiv. Putin might have voiced this stance from the outset, yet it required time and the aid of Gundyaev to crystallize the goal,’ political technologist Mykhailo Sheitelman tells Apostrophe.
The second holly war
Regrettably, the proclamation of a 'holy war,’ wherein Russia and its populace defend a unified spiritual realm against universal evil, also serves entirely utilitarian, practical ends, notably mobilization.
‘Currently, Russia aims to mobilize approximately 300,000 individuals in the near term. However, the current rate, averaging around 30,000 per month, falls short. These numbers merely offset existing losses. To achieve the target, the pace of mobilization must double. Calls for a 'holy war' could serve as a catalyst for achieving this goal,’ political scientist, Major of the Ukrainian Armored forces Taras Berezovets tells to Apostrophe.
In general, the concept of ‘holy war’ is quite sacred for Russia. Indeed, something may come of it.
‘Let's reflect on the Second World War: phrases like "holy war" and "stand up, huge country" truly stirred the spirit of the people. However, it's important to recognize that 80 years ago, religion or Satan were not focal points of discussion. Presently, such discourse evokes parallels with jihad or the crusades, one of which saw even the very Christian city of Constantinople plundered,’ Fylypovych says.
At the same time, the 'order’ of the World Russian People's Council can be not just a moral preparation for the future large-scale mobilization, but also become a justification for the war itself.
‘This represents a classic fusion of war and religion. In Russia, the intertwining of religion with propaganda runs deep, and the notion of a "holy war" serves as a further layer of this complex propaganda narrative. It operates at a level of worldview and serves to justify war crimes,’ Oleksandr Kovalenko, military and political columnist of the Information Resistance group, tells Apostrophe.
In essence, "holy war" could serve as a form of absolution for the already compromised moral principles of the Russian military. It frames their actions as a battle against the forces of Satan himself, seemingly justifying acts of violence, torture, rape. And looting toilets. These are mere side effects in the fight against this universal evil
