This is a post-Soviet Russian poster dating from the 1990s.
This poster makes a crucial distinction. The Decalogue does not say, “Thou shalt not kill”. Rather, it commands us, “Thou shalt not murder”. Unfortunately, this distinction is lost in most English translations. Therefore, the current noise in some circles that the Church condemns warfare per se is not founded in fact. If we look at the actual practise of the Church as compared to recent pronouncements by such groups as the “Orthodox Peace Fellowship”, we see that far from being pacifistic, the Church has blessed Christian warriors many times during its history.
The forces of the Christian Roman (mistakenly called Byzantine in most sources) Empire bore the cross upon their shields, and the host was blessed many times not only by priests and bishops, but, also by patriarchs. Throughout their history, the forces of both Christian Rome and Russia carried the icon of Christ upon their banners into battle, and such usage was not considered sacrilegious at the time, nor is it a profanation of the sacred today. Indeed, there were many times when the faith was defended by the sword. Do remember the example of the boyar Dmitri Pozharsky and the blacksmith Kuzma Minin in leading the Orthodox host in defence of faith and motherland in the early seventeenth century. If they had been pacifistic, Russia would be a Catholic country today. Indeed, the monks of the St Sergius-Trinity Lavra actively helped defend their monastery against the Poles, and none of them were excommunicated for doing so.
Earlier, in the fourteenth century, we have the example of the heroic schemamonks Peresvet and Oslyabya at the Battle of Kulikovo against the Golden Horde. I shall not comment on them at present, for there are stirring artworks featuring them, and that would be the proper time to cover them in depth. Before departing for the field of battle, Grand Prince St Dmitri Donskoi went to receive the blessing of St Sergius of Radonezh, the greatest elder of the time. He was not refused. There are icons depicting this, and St Dmitri is shown in full armour, bearing his weapons. Of course, there is also the fact that the Church glorified St Dmitri as being amongst the choir of saints.
I have seen photographs of Patriarch Sergei Stagorodsky blessing the troops of the Dmitri Donskoi Tank Brigade. There are also photos of religious processions at the front, priests receiving decorations for bravery in battle with the partisans, and of Patriarch Sergei calling on the people to resist the invader. The Church was NOT pacifistic. If Russians had been pacifistic, the Nazis would be ruling Russia as a colony today.
In short, I would recommend that people attend to the views of Fr Alexander Webster (a chaplain in the forces) rather than the arguments of the Orthodox Peace Fellowship. Fr Alexander’s views reflect the actual practise of the Church better than those of the so-called “Peace Fellowship”.
A note to Mary-Leah: Many blessings on your Matthew. May God watch over him and his comrades as they do their duty. The profession of arms is ancient and honourable, whereas the posturing of activists is not.
