The Orthodox Christian Church, which is reclaiming its traditional role in post-Soviet Russia, has just described its government’s fight against the Islamic State and other jihadi groups in Syria as a “holy war.”
According to Vsevolod Chaplin, head of the Church’s Public Affairs Department,
The fight with terrorism is a holy battle and today our country is perhaps the most active force in the world fighting it. The Russian Federation has made a responsible decision on the use of armed forces to defend the People of Syria from the sorrows caused by the arbitrariness of terrorists. Christians are suffering in the region with the kidnapping of clerics and the destruction of churches. Muslims are suffering no less.
This is not a pretext to justify intervention in Syria. For years, Russia’s Orthodox leaders have been voicing their concern for persecuted Christians. Back in February 2012, the Russian church described to Vladimir Putin the horrific treatment Christians are experiencing around the world, especially under Islam:
The head of External Church Relations, Metropolitan Illarion, said that every five minutes one Christian was dying for his or her faith in some part of the world, specifying that he was talking about such countries as Iraq, Egypt, Pakistan and India. The cleric asked Putin to make the protection of Christians one of the foreign policy directions in future.
“This is how it will be, have no doubt,” Putin answered.
Compare and contrast Putin’s terse response with U.S. President Obama, who denies the connection between Islamic teachings and violence; whose policies habitually empower Christian-persecuting Islamists; who prevents Christian representatives from testifying against their tormentors; and who even throws escaped Christian refugees back to the lions, while accepting tens of thousands of Muslim migrants.
Russian Patriarch Kirill once even wrote an impassioned letter to Obama, imploring him to stop empowering the murderers of Christians. That the patriarch said “I am deeply convinced that the countries which belong to the Christian civilization bear a special responsibility for the fate of Christians in the Middle East” must have only ensured that the letter ended up in the Oval Office’s trash can. After all, didn’t Obama make clear that America is “no longer a Christian nation“?
Of course, Russian concerns for Christian minorities will be cynically dismissed by the usual brood of talking heads on both sides. While such dismissals once resonated with Americans, they are becoming less persuasive to those paying attention, as explained in “Putin’s Crusade—Is Russia the Last Defender of the Christian Faith?”
For those of us who grew up in America being told that the godless communist atheists in Russia were our enemies, the idea that America might give up on God and Christianity while Russia embraces religion might once have been difficult to accept. But by 2015, the everyday signs in America show a growing contempt for Christianity, under the first president whose very claims of being a Christian are questionable. The exact opposite trend is happening for Russia and its leaders—a return to Christian roots.
Indeed, growing numbers of Americans who have no special love for Russia or Orthodoxy—from billionaire capitalist Donald Trump to evangelical Christians—are being won over by Putin’s frank talk and actions.
How can they not? After one of his speeches praising the West’s Christian heritage—a thing few American politicians dare do—Putin concluded with something that must surely resonate with millions of traditional Americans: “We must protect Russia from that which has destroyed American society”—a reference to the anti-Christian liberalism and licentiousness that has run amok in the West.
Even the Rev. Franklin Graham’s response to Russia’s military intervention in Syria seems uncharacteristically positive, coming as it is from the head of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, which for decades spoke against the godless Soviets: “What Russia is doing may save the lives of Christians in the Middle East… Keep reading

Jr says
I’m not a fan of Putin, but I’m glad that he is actually doing something to defeat Isis, instead of Obama and Cameron’s fake showsrikes
Ex-muslim says
I lived in the West for a while and from my observation people in the West are mostly secular and are not fans of Christianity and many of them show outright hostility to Christianity but Russians and other Orthodox Christians in the East are different and they do understand the threat of islam and would not hesitate to defend Christianity if they are callled to do so. People in America and in the West will stand up for “global warming” for “gay rights” for “democracy & human rights” but they despise Christianity, the Cross and the Bible and would even collaborate to destroy it.
underbed cat says
Putin has stated he has no tolerance for islamic terrorism. Russia has a muslim population which is huge. Blowing up schools, churches, railroad stations, buses, dams, railroads has not slipped by Putins awareness, he knows how to describe it. How much information he has about sharia law,jihad and islamic doctrine that it is permisisble to lie to spread islam, may be limited but he made the politically incorrect connection anyway. I beleive his mother was his positive influence about Christianity at the time of his youth religion was forbidden and churches had been closed.
So he entered Syria with great risk potential of problems at home.
Ex-muslim says
I am sure muslims in Russia will not try to start a major jihad in Russia as Russia is not following liberal democracy which weakens societies and leads to political-correctness.
If they try to start a major jihad in Russia they will be annihilated.
Timothy N. Hunter says
Actually, I was a US diplomat in Saudi Arabia and refused to spy on Christian groups for the C.I.A. and I filed charges against the US government for its role in assisting in the Saudi persecution of Christians in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia…however, when the Washington lawyers sought a huge amount of money for legal services (which I did not have) I was forced into internal exile and now live in southern Florida…and continue the fight as best I can…
.http://www.meforum.org/283/appeasing-the-saudis
In 1998 I helped write “The International Relgious Freedom Acf” to allow Christians to use US embassies and consulates for religous services…however, the State Department has ignored this law and I haven’t the resources to fight with them….
http://capitolwords.org/date/1998/10/15/S12642_the-international-religious-freedom-act/
Peggy says
How sad, no money, no justice.
I will try to spread these stories as much as I can.
Linde Barrera says
To Timothy N. Hunter- WOW! I just now read both articles from your links, and thank you. Pardon my vulgarity, but what pussies are in the US State Department, pandering to those evil Saudis. I sincerely hope you received all benefits from being a US serviceman and veteran. God bless you and yours. (I am writing down the links to refer to various people, so they get an unbiased view of what goes on in Saudi Arabia and the gutless wonders of our US government.) And to this day, I condemn Pres. George H.W. Bush for promising to defend the Saudi King from Sadam Hussein, who invaded Kuwait. Thank you for your insights.
Peggy says
Give it time. I think his fan base is growing and rightly so.
He is the only Christian leader who is prepared to stand up to Islam and fight for us and our brothers and sisters.
Western leaders have shown their true face and Putin his. Putin is a bastard but he is OUR bastern unlike Obama, Merkel, Cameron etc.
Peggy says
Correction, OUR bastard.
Ex-muslim says
I would not call President Putin a “bastard” his political moves make more sense to millions of Christians who live in the islamic world.
Peggy says
Don’t misunderstand, I don’t have a problem with Putin. I am grateful to him for doing something about this huge problem but that doesn’t mean he is a good man.
No politician is a good man for if they were they couldn’t get that far but I am glad that his interests seem to be the same as ours.
underbed cat says
Cameron is recently making statements that may surprise you. His eyes are opening now that Putin made his move. The “we are peaceful islam” fib is starting to be exposed.
Angemon says
Strange times we live in, right?
MM says
Indeed. Consider also that also China has a growing Christian community. And then think again about the Americas: Now (still?) about 80-90% Christian by affiliation. 523 years ago there were no Christians at all. Christianity might vanish in any given place but only to flourish in another place.
Raja says
Indeed strange times Angemon.
Though I used to hate the leadership of Russia I started admiring the Russian state since late 90’s.
She not only opened up her economy to the world she made sweeping changes to her educational and moral culture. Then she invited Christian missionaries and invited mainline churches of US to revamp their orthodoxy. It worth noting that then Russia was licking the wounds of the break up of USSR. I know a couple from US who moved to Russia for mission work as they were not so welcome in Asia in the year 1998-9.
When the West is doing all kinds of somersault in the name of secularism Russia has had the COURAGE AND THE CHARACTER to do her won experimentation coupled with lots of wisdom.
May be Putin is influenced by the younger generation to be assertive but he must leave Ukraine alone sooner than later to be a world leader.
Miao Zedong says
“May be Putin is influenced by the younger generation to be assertive but he must leave Ukraine alone sooner than later to be a world leader.”
—
No, he needs not.
The EU must stop inciting the Ukraine with false promises. That EU-Monster is wreaking havoc with support mass immigration and such promises on an unprecedented scale since WW2.
Courtesy of non elected “leaders”, supported an islamophile and russophobic US.
The reason I’m opposing your statement is that I think that anyone aspiring “world leadership” suffers from hubris. Putin on the other hand seems in touch wit reality an perfectly capable of living as on great leader amongst many others.
albert says
We appear to have a Russian and Chinese leadership who are prepared to fight for civilisation and an American President and European Leaders who are aiding the Jihad against their own people. If it was down to a referendum of the indigenous Judaeo Christian peoples of the West ALL muslims would be sent back.
Jay Boo says
I miss the days when the question, “Is the Pope catholic” was merely a rhetorical cliché rather than a literal question.
“Is Obama Muslim?” should be the replacement to indicate the obvious .
spot on says
“Is the Pope Catholic” LOL! Good question these days.
Up is now down and down is now up. Whatever works looks best to me. If Putin can keep the ME Christians from slaughter, more power to him and I applaud his work with Christians. Our (Muslim) President is only too happy to see Christians get slaughtered.
Benedict says
Good show, it took the Russians to show the so called Christian countries how its done. Of course muslim Obama will be seething and will try to get the liberal, communist, left leaning cointries to comment on the Russian attacks
Baucent says
The notion that Putin’s actions in Syria as being in response to the appeal of the Russian patriarch I think grossly over simplifies the situation. He may be concerned about the treatment of Christians, but he is not anti muslim in any way. This is shown in the way he has cultivated the relationship with Iran and of course Assad. He wants to revive Russian influence in a region that was their patch during the Cold War, all part of being a global power.
spot on says
That is what is called smart. We used to have smart Presidents too. I remember Reagan kept good relations with whoever was losing in order to keep them fighting each other. That way they didn’t have time to kill Christians.
Truth Seeker says
Anti Russian Mindset of the Westerners is not New and limited to Communist Soviet Union. When Russia was ruled by Emperors Tsars, Ottomans invaded Russia more than once, and every time they lost. But in one war- Crimean War-, Britain and France sided Ottomans against Russia and that time Russia lost war.
Anti Russian Mindset is in the Blood of Westerners.
Reluctance to Help Emperor Constantine by Britain and France led to the fall of Constantinople. (US was not a power then).
In Recent Years Westerners only abetted the wiping out of Christians from Iraq, Syria, Libya etc.
They are very enthusiastic in covering up all crimes by Terror Jihadis, and Close the Eyes to the Christians who are subjected to Torture by their Frenemies.
sinantara says
France and Britain supported the Porte against Russia. They also were wary of the Greek revolt, fearing it would trigger other nationalist revolts which would lead to the breakup of the Ottoman empire, creating a vacuum that would be filled by Russia. France even could be called a direct ally of the Ottomans. Queen Eugin even visited the Topkapi and her descriptions inspired orientalist artists because they had not read Edward Said.
This left Russia as the champion of eastern Christianity–and not just for the sake of warm water ports. Russia was Christianized out of Byzantium, Cyril was a Byzantine missionary.
However, if the British political elite were coldly calculating imperialists, their cultural elite counted many Grechophiles, including Lord Byron and Admiral Codrington, who triggered and won the all important battle of Navarino. That made him a people’s hero and an embarrassment for the ruling establishment, who tactically destroyed his career.
The British imperialists have waged merciless war on the Catholic Irish and the Lutheran Boers. Not to defend the natives against the Boers, it was over gold and diamonds–and the effective guerrilla was put to an end by starving the Boer population in concentration camps.
One has give it to them that they stopped among others the slave trade, suttee, the Thugs… However, Richard Lionheart was actually French…
Back to Russia, communism was an intermezzo, introduced by west European powers who thought they could use Lenin as an agent. Marx himself warned that communism should not be introduced in east Europe, so to Lenin’s handlers that was an additional reason to go ahead. And indeed, Marxism is alive and kicking in western Europe… After having, like a smart virus, introduced itself in the institutions of liberalism.
When looking at history, Putin’s stance doesn’t look so strange. Obama’s sense of history is probably weak–American idealism is being “self made”, which works well for corporate management, didn’t the Americans manage to put a man on the moon? So why can’t the world be managed? Even by “the most powerful man on earth?”
Kepha says
Correction, Sinantara: The Boers were (and still largely are) Reformed rather than Lutheran.
JIMJFOX says
“Richard Lionheart was actually French”
Name: King Richard I The Lion Heart
Born: September 6, 1157 at Beaumont Place, Oxford
Parents: Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine
The fact that he spoke only French and based himself there
reflected his mother’s ownership of estates in France.
Dose NOT make him French…
sinantara says
sorry on two accounts. But my point is, the post Ferdinand and Isabella and post Richard II the Lionheart west Europe did and does not include Christianity in its political calculations. I think it was because of the 30 year war and the treaty of Westphalia. The concert of Europa then saw to it that any of their number becoming dominant had to face a coalition–which turned out to be a devils dilemma, preventing the likes of Napoleon and Hitler to take over but caused the west to tear itself apart. This among others led tho an reaction, the interpretation of Christian values not in the name of Christ but in name of secular humanity and kind of hijacked by cultural Marxism which took over the enlightenment’s anti clericalism. Spawning the masochistic liberal guilt complex and the PC-MC culture as its end product, the Cult the Other and debasement of the self, to the point of offering children to the Other like in Rotherham.
Now, Islam is the Other (and a welcome substitute proletariat) and Russia is too much like the Self.
sinantara says
correction, the cult Of the Other
Wellington says
As Baucent has already indicated, one should not get all gushy about Putin protecting Christians. It may have that ancillary effect at times but Putin is first and foremost out for Putin and the preservation and extension of Russian power. He will do whatever he deems prudent in these regards, including making all kinds of deals with Iran. This is Realpolitik at work by Putin and in no way indicative of some kind of Christian compassion. I will give Putin this, though, and that is that he’s not to be messed with, which is necessary in a leader and which is certainly absent right now where the United States is concerned.
Peggy says
Whatever the reason for his attacks on IS the fact is that he is the only one willing to protect the Christians.
That makes him OK in my book.
No politician is a nice bloke and they all do what serves them first. We are not naive to think otherwise but you have to back the one who backs you.
Right now, western leaders back them not us so I don’t back western leaders.
spot on says
Peggy, When intelligent people such as all of our friends here at JW “kick around” a difficult subject such as Putin and his motives, there is usually one description that “nails” it. You have “nailed” it. Putin is a politician and seeks public support in Russia.
Mazo says
The Russian Orthodox Church does not proselytize in Muslim Republics of the Russian Federation such as Chechnya and Dagestan, and the Orthodox Church is strictly against Evangelical cultists.
The official recognized religions of Russia are Orthodox Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Buddhism. Evangelicalism is not recognized as a religion and is treated as a dangerous cult by the Orthodox. Many would agree with that view.
The chief Grand Mufti of Russia also sanctioned Russia’s military operation in Syria and denounced terrorists.
Islam is also undergoing a revival in Russia thanks to Putin. Putin just opened up a new Mosque in Tatarstan a few weeks ago and is directly funding Sufism and traditional Madhahib in Russia to counteract Salafism (called Wahhabism in Russia). More and more Mosques are springing up in the Muslim majority Republics of Russia.
http ://nationalinterest. org/feature/comeback-how-islam-got-its-groove-back-russia-12609
Putin has allowed Kadyrov to implement Sharia in Chechnya so Chechens do not need to follow Russian federal law. They can now take several wives in accordance with Sharia.
https ://foreignpolicy. com/2015/07/24/vladimir-putin-polygamy-islam-chechnya-christian-far-right-europe-ramzan-kadyrov/
Putin denounced Charlie Hebdo’s cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad and Russian newspapers will not republish the cartoons. Putin helped organize massive protests among Muslims in Russia denouncing the cartoons.
http ://www.bloomberg. com/news/articles/2015-02-17/putin-points-muslim-rage-at-cold-war-foes-as-jihadis-vow-attacks
http ://www.independent. co.uk/news/world/europe/charlie-hebdo-protests-chechnya-declares-holiday-for-rally-against-prophet-mohamed-cartoons-as-angry-9990339.html
Putin has said that Islam and Orthodox Christianity are closer to each other than Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity and stated his support for Islam. Putin has nefer spoken against Sharia like the forged quote claims.
http ://www.economist. com/blogs/erasmus/2015/01/empire-islam-and-russia
https ://www.youtube. com/watch?v=nqyVYtWB894
In China anti-prophet cartoons are also effectively banned. You absolutely cannot publish cartoons insulting Prophet Muhammad in the news in China. The state run Global Times newspaper denounced Charlie Hebdo’s cartoons and attacks on Islam. It was after 1989 when China arrested authors who published a book which insulted Islam that this de facto ban came into effect. The book was publicly burned and banned.
China recognizes Daoism, Buddhism, Islam, Catholicism and Protestantism.
Unfortunately unlike in Russia, China has not made progress in dealing with the last recognized religion I mentioned, Evangelicalism is not classified as a cult by religious authorities like Falun Gong is.
Kepha says
In China, they ban anti-Muhammad cartoons because they’re afraid someone will burn down the police station and Communist Party HQ in Xining or some place like that.
Mazo, you seem really bitter about us Evangelicals. What happened? Some relative of yours go and join them?
Kepha (何矶法, 基督教福音派之一角图)
The Evangelical Cultist
Kepha says
oops 异教徒。Chinese has too many homophones and near-homophones.
Mazo says
In Tibet-Qinghai-Gansu, ifs mostly Tibetans who are rioting, attacking Mosques, attacking cemetaries, burning down Muslim owned shops and violently assaulting people wearing headgear. I don’t remember the last time a Lamasery or Monastary was violently attacked. Tibetans cause 90% of riots and violence there.
You think that non-western countries have not figured out a way to capitalize on western media stupidity? When you’ve figured out that doing something angers a great segment of the world population, banning it is basic common sense, hoping that your enemies do it is the best thing that can happen.
Everytime a western newspaper publishes ugly cartoons Putin laughs at the stupid idiots. It helps him create a straw man target against the west, all the anger of Muslims on Russia will be directed against the west while Putin makes sure no cartoons will be published in the Russian media and present himself as defending Islam.
The Global Times openly bashed Charlie Hebdo and laughed at its stupidity. Its western embassies which get sacked worldwide and causes Muslims everywhere to hate the west.
Eastern lightning, Taipings, African nutjobs who think they can walk on water, Mormon LDS, Jehovah’s Witnesses and many other cults derive from Evangelicalism. People rolling on the floor and think they are getting “slammed” by the Holy Spirit, talking in tongues, handling venemous snakes and various other stupidity.
Angemon says
Mazo posted:
“Eastern lightning, Taipings, African nutjobs who think they can walk on water, Mormon LDS, Jehovah’s Witnesses and many other cults derive from Evangelicalism. People rolling on the floor and think they are getting “slammed” by the Holy Spirit, talking in tongues, handling venemous snakes and various other stupidity.”
That reminds me of the story of the illiterate Arab who claimed he was sodo…”squeezed” by the angel Gabriel in a cave and told to “recite”. Man, talk about crazy – I don’t know what was up his hookah, but it must have been fine material. Top notch shisha.
Angemon says
Also, that Arab’s alleged “revelations” involved hallucinations (visual and auditive), bodily spasms and pain, sudden bouts of anxiety and fear, muscle twitching, sweat (even in cold days) and loss of memory. Me thinks he was having some sort of seizure and managed to hoodwink his countrymen and make the best of it 🙂
Mazo says
Evangelicals are the western Taliban. Calvinists and Puritans banned fancing clothing, dancing and art. Their Churches look like Taliban caves.
Your Puritan Evangelicals believed parents have the right to slaughter their children and hang innocent people accuse of being witches.
John Calvin thought he was a messenger of God and he burned people whom he hated with fire.
Peggy says
Whatever you’re smoking, stop it.
Baucent says
Try and stay on topic Mazo mate, what are you going to drift into next, 500 years of Islamic gardening?
Joseph says
@ Mazo
WOW, even for you that is far fetched. Just where do you come up with these brilliant observations. A scholar like you is obviously wasting his time here so why don’t you just move on to somewhere else?
sinantara says
Like this, I like this, what else do they do. tell me, sounds like fun… The snakes and the rolling, but can one skip the burning of witches?
Kepha says
Learn your history, Mazo. The elected city syndics of Geneva burned Miguel Servetus, a Unitarian (who was under sentence of death all over Catholic Europe, and was such an obnoxious twat he would’ve been burned in Roger Williams’ Rhode Island as well). Calvin was just an expert witness at the trials. Seeing the modernized Italian women who hold a rally to cheer on women as they are having an abortion, I sometimes think those Renaissance era syndics had a point.
Evangelicalism is also diverse in that it has raised up many people who have questioned such practices.
And don’t forget that the man who recovered the dignity of China, Mao Zedong, was a big admirer of the Taipings (even if people like me question the orthodoxy of a man like Hong Xiuquan, who believed himself the younger brother of Jesus Christ).
Great job of tu qoque.
Mazo says
John Calvin ordered dozens of people burned and quartered on charges of witchcraft.
Calvinists preach the same false morality found in Maoism. Both ban fancy clothing, artwork, fun, and preach high morals on human behavior but there is nothing holy, nothing in substance about them. From where did Calvin get his divine authority? He was no Prophet but a madman who thought he had divine sanction.
Angemon says
Mazo posted:
“From where did Calvin get his divine authority? He was no Prophet but a madman who thought he had divine sanction.”
How do you go from Calvinism to islam and muhammad?
Paul says
Nice one Russia. I wish you all the best, I’m sure God is on your
side. I don’t think Putin us a saint, but all I know is that if Turkey,
Qatar, Saudi-Arabia, and the corrupt governments of France, Germany
the UK and the US are ideologically against him then he must indeed
be doing something very right!
Paul says
*”is a saint..”
Paul says
Again, while the likes of Russia and China may not be perfect
they do understand that you can’t and shouldn’t negotiate with
scum like this and you have to respect their strictly no nonsense
approach. Meanwhile, in the West we still beat about the bush and
indulge in useless “dialogue” and even debate with people on our
TV networks who openly proclaim their hatred for us and how they
want to see us destroyed! No way would people like the Russians
or the Chinese tolerate this crap for a minute! Whether we want to
or not, we’re going to have to grow a pair quite quickly and get real,
especially with the latest hijra, sorry, ‘refugee’ on their way.
Paul says
*”refugees..”. Grrrr!
Peggy says
Russia Declares ‘Holy War’ on Islamic State
Islamic State has declared war on the rest of the world so what do they expect? Always the victims as usual.
Westman says
Is it just me or has the ISIS braggadocio gone down a notch since Putin got involved? Where are the threats of what they will do to him, and taking over the Kremlin?
Paul says
They only understand the one language. I’ve noticed that when
they get caught and get their comeuppance that they squeal like
the little cowards they truly are, much unlike the courage and dignity
shown by their poor victims.
islam :- the hateful religion of peace says
This is the Crusades all over again, Christians protecting themselves against muslims, instead of lines of killers on horseback with swords it’s mayhem in the middle east and a flood of people walking into Europe looking for the best social welfare system ..
Putin understands it’s only a matter of time before muslims start creating dissatisfaction, then mayhem in the east ..
Of course Putin, is operating under the guise of protecting his influence, (and arms market), but I’m sure his lieutenants are telling him the truth, of course Putin wouldn’t even think of pussy footing around …
My attitude towards Putin has made a major change, lets hope he pulls as many christians out of hell and makes sure he escourts muslims into paradise …..
Kepha says
I have a few speculations about Putin and his Russia–although I will not dogmatize.
I suspect that his reconciliation with the Eastern Orthodox Church–if not to Christ himself–may well be sincere, and this may go far towards explaining even some of his “bad” behavior. After all, I understand that since 1991, the Eastern Orthodox have opened (re-opened?) a church near Lyubyanka to minister to the KGB employees. I suspect to a devout Orthodox Russian, the Ukraine, heartland of the Kievan Rus and Orthodoxy’s gateway into the Eastern Slavic lands, is sort of holy ground. Further, I’m not surprised that the Patriarch’s comments about Eastern Orthodoxy vis-a-vis Islam and vis-a-vis Western Christendom. Just read Dostoevsky and you will see a clear anti-Western Catholic (and anti-Protestant) animus.
At the same time, I will admit being positively impressed with Putin’s ban on homosexual couples adopting children, his rediscovery of traditional values, and his defense of the Christians of the Middle East. Further, he is clearly a Russian patriot, just as the O is not an American one.
Mazo says
The Greek Catholic Church of Ukraine which is the Orthodox Church of Galicia (Western Ukraine) which defected to the Vatican, is seen as the equivalent of a spiritual prostitute by the Russians. As are all eastern-rite Catholics.
Many Orthodox are dead serious about the split. There are Orthodox monks who go around with banners denouncing Ecunemalism with Catholics and say “Orthodoxy or death”.
In the final Siege of Constantinople the majority of Orthodox faithful denounced the leadership’s efforts to reunite with the Catholic Church in order to obtain military aid.
Copts, Assyrians and Armenians who converted to Evangelical Protestantism are not liked by the majority of their people who adhere to the Oriental Orthodox Church. The Evangelicals are the ones handing out Bibles and irritating people in Egypt and Iran.
Putin’s definition of Russian includes all ethnicites and traditional religions in the Russian federation and is a cultural linguistic definition. Rossiyane refers to all Russian citizens regardless of ethnicity.
Many neo-nazi Russians are displeased with that and would rather see a Russia composed solely of Russkiye- ethnic eastern Slavic Orthodox Russians. They believe Putin is implementing a Jewish agenda to destroy Russia, and importing Muslim migrants into Moscow and turning a blind eye to Central Asian gangs, and replacing ethnic Russians as their birthrate plumets while the Muslim birthrate is rising in Russia.
Baucent says
As usual a mish mash of facts, half truths, nonsense and errors passed off as if dear Mazo is the personal confidant of the Russian Patriarch. And those pesky evangelicals really do get under your skin. All rather boring really, nothing on TV?
Richard says
So drugs are okay at Havdalah now ? You know … we sniff spices as a reminder of shabbat, before we return to work …
Sergio says
I love Putin.
Wakup says
I love Putin too, a short paste from an article on him.
It wasn’t until the double-whammy of 1) his wife’s car accident in 1993 and 2) a life-threatening house fire in 1996 that Putin began questioning his atheism. During a vulnerable moment before Putin departed for a diplomatic trip to Israel, his mother gave him a baptismal cross. He said of the occasion:
I did as she said and then put the cross around my neck. I have never taken it off since.3
http://hollowverse.com/vladimir-putin/
You hang around with Jesus and he starts to rub off on you he ain’t perfect and he reminds me of someone. There was a time during the Crusades when the Christians really had their backs to the wall, then a King arrived who turned the situation around and gave them all hope.
His name was Richard the Lionheart, please, please, please guys can we start calling him Putin the Lionheart?
Oh God please, that would piss off the muslims, obama and the liberals so much if that caught on. Then people would say why do you call him the Lionheart and we would say, well where can I begin.
God bless you and guide you Putin the Lionheart.
voegelinian says
Putin going after ISIS is like an alternative medicine doctor going after a patient’s inflammatory cyst/tumor, while he and the patient and the patient’s friends & family and all other doctors continue to ignore the underlying cancer that caused the cyst/tumor in the first place.
The underlying cancer, of course, is the Islam which all Muslims adore & enable (or lie about when they are pretending to be moderately “diverse”).
John Smith says
Extreme Islam should come with the same warning that Kyle Reese gave Sarah Connor against the Terminators, “…they can’t be bargained with…they can’t be reasoned with…and they absolutely will not stop…ever!….until you are dead!” That just about sums the IS operating manual for all who disagree with them.
Catherine says
The Gods must think we are crazy!