Russian Church's War on Europe: Putin Has Missiles and Incense in His Arsenal

Nuns from Belarus's St. Elizabeth Monastery, known for selling Orthodox icons and traditional Russian crafts at European markets, have become entangled in a controversy extending beyond religious commerce. Organizations monitoring the monastery's activities accuse them of supporting Russia and its invasion of Ukraine, leading to their removal from some European markets and churches.

The monastery vehemently denies these accusations. They assert that proceeds from their sales are directed towards social causes, including support for orphans and humanitarian aid, according to the publication Unherd. However, the controversy has persisted, with incidents reported at Christmas markets in various European cities.

In 2022, nuns were prevented from selling their goods at Winchester Cathedral's Christmas market after activists highlighted their alleged ties to Russia and the monastery's pro-Kremlin stances. Similar protests occurred in other European cities, such as Szczecin, Poland, where Belarusian pro-democracy activists warned shoppers that their purchases might indirectly support repression in Belarus and Russian aggression against Ukraine.

The monastery's spiritual father, Archbishop Andrei Lemeshonok, has publicly expressed support for Russia. Reports and investigations have linked the monastery to pro-war Kremlin messaging, with some nuns appearing in Russian-occupied territories and images showing Russian flags with the "Z" symbol, an emblem of the invasion. Lemeshonok has described the monastery as a "combat unit," and its activities have been associated with supporting Russian military personnel. European security services and researchers are examining how Moscow-aligned religious networks might be used for propaganda and influence operations.

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One chance is all he needs ... Michy Batshuayi is Abhawi.