After a high-profile incident involving Schema-Abbot Gabriel and Deputy Chief of the Main Military-Political Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces Apti Alaudinov, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' condemned the priest for his words about Muslims. According to the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, these statements were nothing more than an attempt to provoke an "Orthodox-Islamic conflict." He also called for "driving away" all those who, under the pretext of protecting Russian culture and the church, agitate for a fight against Russian Muslims.
This statement was made by His Holiness the Patriarch on June 14 at the Orthodox gymnasium at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Kaliningrad. This was a response to a question from Archpriest Vladimir Maximov about how Orthodox pastors should comment on a statement that worries parishioners, which “violated our interethnic, interreligious harmony with our Muslim brothers.”
“At a time when Orthodox and Muslims are fighting together with weapons in hand, when the best representatives of Islam support Orthodoxy, including those places where they are the majority – for example, in Chechnya, Orthodox Christians do not experience any oppression – at this very time, only a madman or a person with evil intentions can provoke an Orthodox-Islamic conflict. Therefore, drive away all those who speak like that,” said Patriarch Kirill.
The head of the Russian Orthodox Church emphasized that, despite some differences in the cultures of Christians and Muslims, for example, the attitude to polygamy, representatives of these faiths have common goals, namely, “caring for the Motherland, for Russia.”
“How many Muslims are now dying, defending the Motherland!” – the patriarch emphasized.
He is convinced that today Orthodox-Muslim relations are in harmony and this is what “irritates” the enemies, who provoke “various kinds of aggressive ideas” among the followers of both religions.
Recall that in May, during a Sunday sermon in Moscow, Schema-Abbot Gabriel spoke negatively about Muslim migrants. He called Islam “the wrong religion” and its followers “an entire army.” According to the priest, Muslims can slaughter all Muscovites by order of the mullah. After Apti Alaudinov demanded an apology from the Schema-Abbot, he was dismissed from his post as head of the Sochi courtyard of the Valaam Monastery. At the same time, the military leader sharply condemned Father Gabriel’s “provocative statements” about the “wrong faith,” calling him “an imbecile in a cassock” and “a representative of the troops of the Antichrist.”
After the priest was removed from office, representatives of the Orthodox movement "Sorok Sorokov" decided to "punish" Alaudinov and appealed to the Investigative Committee and the Ministry of Defense. The activists called for the general to be held accountable under Articles 148 ("Violation of the right to freedom of conscience and religion") and 282 ("Incitement to hatred or enmity") of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Another demand is the resignation of Alaudinov from the post of deputy head of the Main Military-Political Directorate of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
On June 8, Alaudinov published a video message on his Telegram channel in which he partially apologized for his words.
