Documents

An open letter of Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia to Moscow Mayor Luzhkov on a idea of holding gay parade in the capital city

Your Excellency, deeply respected Yuri Mikhailovich!

Knowing your principle position on an initiative of a group of persons of untraditional sexual orientation to hold their march in Moscow next spring, I would like to express my support to you and thank you for your decision to prevent public propaganda for immorality. As Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church and ruling bishop of Moscow, I was gratified to learn that you and the government of Moscow have approached this problem with civil responsibility not only for the present of our country, but also for its future.

In connection with the petition to realize this project, I cannot but say some words about the attitude of the Church to such phenomena. Sex difference is regarded as a particular gift of God in the Holy Scripture, Church teaching and its centuries-old experience. Man and woman have been created for integral union in the spirit of Christian love as equal bearers of the image of God with equal human dignity. Marriage embodies the original plan of God about creation and is a means of continuation and multiplication of human race: ‘And God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it’ (Gen 1:28). Man and woman are two different images of life in one humanity. Moreover, they need communion and mutual making up. That is why the Church has invariably supported the institution of the family and condemns untraditional relations, seeing them as a vicious deviation from God-given human nature.

The Church treats people with such inclinations with pastoral responsibility urging them to reform and resolutely opposes any attempts to present this sinful tendency as a ‘norm’ and example to follow. The Church does not accept any propaganda for immorality.

There is another side of this vicious asocial phenomenon. Russia is living through a demographic crisis. The Church together with the authorities, businessmen and public at large does what it can to help solve the problem. We are called to bring up young generation in the spirit of traditional spiritual and moral values through our common efforts. I am convinced that gays’ desire to organize a parade in Moscow will not help strengthen the family as the foundation of a strong state.

Dear Yuri Mikhailovich, please accept our gratitude for your decision to protect Moscow and Muscovites against attempts to organize a public parade of propaganda for sin. I am convinced that the overwhelming majority of our citizens are grateful to you and the Moscow government for your care for public morality.

Print this page

Home

Other documents

• Christmas message by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia 06 January 2019, 21:14
• Christmas greetings of Patriarch Kirill to heads of non-Orthodox Churches 27 December 2018, 18:06
• Appeal of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to the archpastors, pastors, monastics and faithful 18 December 2018, 13:53
• Statement by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church concerning the encroachment of the Patriarchate of Constantinople on the canonical territory of the Russian Church 16 October 2018, 19:27
• Statement of the Holy Synod of Antioch concerning the current developments in the Orthodox world 08 October 2018, 14:22
• Statement of the Holy Synod concerning the intervention of the Patriarchate of Constantinople in the canonical territory of the Russian Orthodox Church 18 September 2018, 13:34
• Message of Patriarch Kirill and the Russian Holy Synod on the 1030th anniversary of the Baptism of Russia 18 July 2018, 19:09
• Peacemaking initiative of Christian leaders in response to the situation in the Middle East 17 April 2018, 18:14
• Paschal message of Patriarch Kirill 09 April 2018, 11:15
• Nativity message of Patriarch Kirill 09 January 2018, 18:37
• Joint Declaration by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Russia and Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby 28 November 2017, 18:06
• Paschal message of Patriarch Kirill 16 April 2017, 21:54
• The sermon of Patriarch Kirill after the Divine Liturgy in the Dormition Сathedral in London 17 October 2016, 12:39
• Statement by the DECR communication service of the Moscow Patriarchate due to the aggressive rhetoric of Greek Catholics 02 August 2016, 15:15
• Condolences of Patriarch Kirill over terrorist attack in Nice 15 July 2016, 15:02

Home