Video: The Russian Orthodox Church Proposes a Return to Stalinist Methods to Combat Divorce
The Russian Orthodox Church has called for tighter controls on divorces and, in effect, a return to the practices of the Soviet era.
Fyodor Lukyanov, head of the Russian Orthodox Church’s Patriarchal Commission on Family Affairs, stated that divorce should be made more difficult, following the example of a 1944 decree.
At that time, spouses could not simply dissolve their marriage through the civil registry office—a court proceeding was required, and witnesses and the prosecutor’s office could be involved in the case.
“This isn’t like today’s online divorces in our country,” Lukyanov said, recalling the Soviet system.
In Russia, gasoline supply problems have even reached the church. Metropolitan Evgeny of Yekaterinburg and Verkhoturye stated that Russians should pray to Saint Spyridon of Trimythous so that fuel would reappear at gas stations.
The Russian Orthodox Church has officially approved at least 12 war-related prayers, including a mandatory prayer “for Holy Rus,” which contains a plea for Russia’s victory. This was reported on August 2 by the Center for Countering Disinformation under the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine.
