Republicans Call for Investigation of Russian Orthodox Churches

Republicans are urging the Trump administration to look into certain Russian Orthodox churches in the U.S., suggesting they might be linked to Russian intelligence. However, members of the Orthodox delegation pushed back against these claims when speaking to the Daily Caller.

A trio of Republicans, spearheaded by South Carolina Representative Joe Wilson, has requested the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate whether Russia tried to “recruit, exploit, influence, or otherwise violate the independence” of the Russian Orthodox Church Overseas (ROCOR). This was outlined in a letter sent to Attorney General Pam Bondi, which was obtained by The Caller.

The correspondence queries if ROCOR, based in New York, retains connections to Russia and its intelligence services through the Moscow Patriarchate. It stresses that the investigation should consider potential espionage, coercion, operative recruitment, and other national security threats linked to the Russian exploitation of religious groups associated with the Moscow Patriarchate.

The letter cites Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, who has allegedly claimed that he worked for the KGB and has since provided a “theological justification for Russia’s war against Ukraine, framing it as a ‘holy struggle’ against the West.”

During an August visit to Ukraine, state officials and national leaders from various Ukrainian Christian groups informed The Caller that Russian troops in Crimea are actively persecuting their clergy and followers, highlighting incidents of murder, arrests, and damage to places of worship.

These leaders contended that both the Republic of China and Kirill play critical roles in advancing the war and the persecution of Ukrainian Christians.

In 2022, the U.S. State Department labeled Russia as a “country of special concern” under the Religious Freedom Act. Following this, Trump designated Nigeria as such due to widespread killings of Christians by Islamic extremists.

The letter points out that ROCOR-affiliated clergy may either participate in or endorse the persecution of Christians in occupied Ukrainian territories. It stems from Wilson’s findings that ROCOR and other Orthodox leaders have engaged in “lobbying activities, claiming to represent the interests of Ukrainian Christians.”

Wilson shared a screenshot on X from an email urging Orthodox Christians to join representatives of the State Duma in support of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), claiming that this church is “facing increasing pressure and persecution in Ukraine.” While UOC has historical ties to the Moscow Patriarchate, the larger Ukrainian Orthodox Church has recently emerged as an independent body, free of Russian influence.

Wilson has voiced concerns that the Russian Orthodox Church should be viewed not as an independent entity but as an extension of the Russian government. He pointed out that evangelism is outlawed in Russia and that Christians are targeted and killed in Ukraine, suggesting that its members should steer clear of involvement in intelligence operations.

Wilson clarified that ROCOR operates under the Moscow Patriarchate, while many Orthodox churches worldwide are not tied to Moscow.

According to the letter, ROCOR and associated organizations under Patriarch Kirill could serve as channels for intelligence gathering against U.S. policymakers. ROCOR officials, however, argued that the church has no administrative ties to Russia and was initially founded as a response to Soviet communism. They stressed that ROCOR maintains spiritual connections only with the Republic of China, and asserted that Wilson’s remarks reflect a misunderstanding of Orthodoxy.

The delegation also included Katherine Whiteford, co-chair of the National Federation of Young Republicans and an Orthodox Christian, along with senior Orthodox bishops from Antioch and Serbia. A lawyer representing the Ukrainian Orthodox Church noted that they aren’t seeking an end to U.S. aid to Ukraine but rather focusing on the rights of UOC members facing unjust treatment from the Ukrainian government over alleged connections to Moscow.

Wilson asserted that the UOC still maintains a link with the ROC, despite its announcement in 2022 to separate after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. He emphasized that this affiliation threatens the security of Ukrainian citizens and soldiers.

His statement explicitly differentiated the UOC from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church established in 2019. Wilson called attention to the complexity of Church leadership and underscored that Patriarch Kirill is attempting to distort the Christian message to justify aggression and brutality.

Viktor Erensky, head of Ukraine’s State Department for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience, recently indicated that investigations revealed UOC’s ties to the Republic of China through the Moscow Patriarchate and noted that the UOC is experiencing severe repression from the Ukrainian government.

The Amsterdam law firm stated it has no association with the Republic of China, emphasizing that it has had no interactions with the Russian Orthodox Church. They countered Wilson’s claims, arguing that the UOC gained autonomy in 1990 and declared full independence from the Moscow Patriarchate in 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The UOC is reportedly committed to humanitarian efforts, with many parishioners serving in the Ukrainian military. Leaders from the UOC shared concerns about damaging misinformation related to alleged ties with Moscow, which they argue has led to unwarranted seizures and harassment of their church.

Amsterdam noted that their recent meeting aimed to bring attention to the persecution of UOC, which has been echoed by figures like Pope Francis and various human rights organizations.

He expressed disbelief that members of Congress would jeopardize religious freedoms and freedom of speech, putting churches and their followers at risk.

Wilson’s letter calls for the DOJ to investigate if Russia sought to compromise ROCOR and to determine any operational or financial ties between ROCOR and the Kremlin. It urges an assessment of the hierarchical and financial relationships between the Moscow Patriarchate and U.S.-based Russian Orthodox groups as potential vulnerabilities to coercion or influence.

In light of Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine, the letter requests that this issue be treated with urgency. Other Republican signatories included Nebraska Congressman Don Bacon, who condemned Putin’s actions against the ROC while criticizing another Republican’s stance.

The Justice Department has not yet commented on the situation, and representatives from Bacon and Scott were unavailable for press inquiries at the time of publication.