On October 30, 2024, the first signatures appeared in Auschwitz under the “Letter of Christians of Germany, Poland, and Ukraine to Christians of the Orthodox Church in Russia.”
It was initiated by the head of the Center for Dialogue and Prayer in Auschwitz, Fr Manfred Deselaers, CREDO reports.
Among the first signatories of the letter were Fr Manfred himself, a representative of the German Pax Christi Deutschland Gerold König, representatives of Poland, a representative of the Russian Orthodox Church, Fr Andriy Kordochkin, and Auxiliary Bishop of the Lviv Archdiocese Edward Kava.
The document thoroughly describes the suffering and indignation experienced by Christians who are not involved in Russian politics and expresses hope for a peaceful and happy future for Ukraine and Russia, following the example of Polish-German reconciliation.
Therefore, the initiators of the letter consider it necessary to appeal to those brothers and sisters in Russia who understand the non-Christian nature of the war waged by Russia.
It is noted that Christianity cannot bring “the same imperial fruits as atheistic, communist ideology” and that the proclaimed goal of “protecting traditional values” is not true in Russia, where the rate of divorce and abortion is high, while the level of religiosity is low. The Second World War is also called the Great Patriotic War, in the Russian tradition, but the activities of Nazi Germany are directly compared to what Putin's Russia is doing today.
“Today, Russia is waging war against Ukraine, justifying it with Christian motives and calling it sacred. This is a monstrous idolatry, a betrayal of Christ Himself,” the letter states.
“We pray for conversion, not for the death of our enemies. We do not want the destruction of Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church, but their healing. We pray for a Russia in which a vibrant Christianity helps to respect the dignity of all people and create a civilization of freedom and love,” the document reads (full text).