{"id":15672,"date":"2026-04-23T11:12:44","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T05:27:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eng.dragonmedia.com.np\/?p=15672"},"modified":"2026-04-23T11:12:44","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T05:27:44","slug":"lavrov-orthodox-easter-teaches-us-to-stand-for-truth-and-justice-ukraine-is-an-example","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eng.dragonmedia.com.np\/?p=15672","title":{"rendered":"Lavrov: Orthodox Easter Teaches Us to Stand for Truth and Justice; Ukraine Is an Example<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"

Moscow \u2014 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov addressed the hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church, clergy of other traditional faiths, government officials, civil society representatives, and heads of diplomatic missions accredited in Moscow at a reception on the occasion of Orthodox Easter.<\/p>\n

Lavrov said Easter symbolizes the triumph of good and mercy and reminds us of the importance of mutual assistance and loving one’s neighbor. “It teaches us to stand in defense of truth and fight for justice. This is something that resonates with every Russian,” he stated.<\/p>\n

Recalling that President Vladimir Putin has designated 2026 as the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia, Lavrov said Russia has every right to claim the status of a civilization-state, as set forth in the Foreign Policy Concept of the Russian Federation, which the President approved in March 2023.<\/p>\n

Noting that for centuries Russia has been home to people of various faiths and cultures, he said inter-ethnic and inter-faith harmony and conciliation remain the main pillars ensuring domestic stability and making Russia stronger on the international stage.<\/p>\n

Lavrov said the Russian Orthodox Church has played an instrumental role in cementing national unity and has served as a moral beacon for millions of believers.<\/p>\n

Presenting modern-day Ukraine as a bitter example, Lavrov said, “We can see what happens when political elites reject their spiritual and civilizational roots.” He accused the regime that seized power in Kiev of being ready to sacrifice the lives of millions of ordinary Ukrainians to serve the interests of its Western masters.<\/p>\n

According to him, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has been persecuted for over a decade, including the takeover of churches, vandal attacks, and harassment of clergy and parishioners. According to official data from the Kiev junta alone, over 180 criminal cases have been filed against clerics, including four archpriests.<\/p>\n

“Defending the honor and dignity of our people and compatriots, including their right to use their mother tongue \u2014 the Russian language \u2014 and to belong to the Orthodox faith, are among the goals of the special military operation,” Lavrov said. He noted that the Russian Orthodox Church has stood with its people during this time of hardship, with its clergy carrying out pastoral duties among the fighters.<\/p>\n

Lavrov also mentioned that large-scale conflicts have been raging in the Middle East for many years, where terrorist and radical groups engage in ethnic cleansing, killings, and looting on religious grounds. He said the Russian Orthodox Church has been providing effective assistance to people of its faith there.<\/p>\n

He further noted that the Russian Foreign Ministry’s working group with the Russian Orthodox Church has been working and delivering results for the past 22 years, establishing itself as an effective mechanism for cooperation on key matters of shared interest on the international stage.<\/p>\n

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