Paul Goble
Staunton, July 18 – Reflecting the concern of many in Moscow over Ukraine’s recent military successes, the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church has asked its parishioners to pray for Russians defending occupied Crimea from “visible and invisible adversaries.”
The prayer asks that the Mother of God ensure “an Orthodox presence in Crimea’ and grant “victory from heaven” and goes on to ask St. Fyodor Ushakov, identified in the prayer as the patron saint of the Russian navy and Sevastopol to intercede to ensure Russian control of the Ukrainian peninsula (ru.themoscowtimes.com/2026/07/18/pobedi-navidimiya-inevidimiya-supostati-daruyai-sinod-rpts-utverdil-molitvu-vzaschitu-krima-a201174).
The new prayer, approved at the latest meeting of the church’s Holy Synod, continues with a request for divine intervention to help the Russian military “in its defense of the Fatherland” and heavenly assistance to ensure that Russia itself will be “shielded from the invasion of foreign foes and internecine strife.”
Such a prayer is likely intended to mobilize Russians in support of the war; but it is certain to raise concerns among Russians about just how serious the problems Moscow now faces in prosecuting the Putin’s war in Ukraine and even how much at risk Russia itself is because of its invasion of Ukraine.
As a result, the Kremlin is certain to be anything but thrilled but this latest Patriarchal effort to show its loyalty, one that may backfire and reduce the loyalty of Russians to the author of this war and its illegal occupation of Ukraine’s Crimea and his policies in their own country that are already losing support.
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