dw.com
Exiled Russian Orthodox Priests Face Challenges in New Countries
Russian Orthodox priests are fleeing Russia due to persecution or restrictions under the Moscow-controlled church, facing challenges including lack of transferable skills, and seeking refuge and ministry opportunities abroad; one organization, Peace Unto All, assisted 45 priests and their families with €120,000 in 2024.
- What are the immediate consequences for Russian Orthodox priests who flee Russia due to political or religious persecution?
- Several Russian Orthodox priests have fled Russia due to persecution or restrictions on their ministry under the Moscow-controlled church, while others face imprisonment for opposing the war in Ukraine. Beyond typical emigration challenges, these exiled priests often lack transferable professional skills.
- What are the potential long-term religious and political ramifications of the exodus of Russian Orthodox priests opposed to the war in Ukraine?
- The long-term consequences for the Russian Orthodox Church, both inside and outside Russia, remain uncertain. The exodus of dissenting priests might lead to a schism, while their integration into new communities could create new religious spaces and potentially influence religious discourse.
- How do the challenges faced by exiled Russian Orthodox priests reflect broader patterns of refugee integration and the impact of political repression?
- These priests' experiences highlight the broader impact of political repression in Russia, extending beyond direct political opponents to religious figures who express dissent. The lack of readily transferable skills further complicates their resettlement, demonstrating systemic challenges faced by refugees.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article frames the narrative through the hardships and challenges faced by exiled priests, emphasizing their struggles to adapt to life in a new country and find employment. The headline and introduction highlight the difficulties of emigration and the lack of transferable skills, setting a tone of sympathy and highlighting the negative aspects of their situation. While this is understandable given the subject matter, it could potentially overshadow other aspects of their stories, like their resilience and adaptation.
Language Bias
The language used is largely neutral, but phrases like "pobegli su iz Rusije strahujući od progona" (fled Russia fearing persecution) and "teško je živeti kao izbeglica" (it is hard to live as a refugee) carry a slightly emotional tone. While understandable given the context, more neutral phrasing could be used in some instances. For example, instead of "pobegli", the word "left" or "departed" could be used. The use of "egzodus" (exodus) is also somewhat dramatic.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses on the experiences of exiled Russian Orthodox priests in Germany, but omits the perspectives of those who remain in Russia and support the government or the church. Additionally, the article doesn't detail the internal divisions within the Russian Orthodox Church beyond mentioning the schism with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. While space constraints likely necessitate these omissions, their absence might limit the reader's full understanding of the complexities of the situation.
False Dichotomy
The article doesn't explicitly present false dichotomies, but it implicitly contrasts the experiences of exiled priests with the assumption that remaining in Russia under the current regime is untenable for those opposed to the war. This might oversimplify the range of choices and experiences available to priests within Russia.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights the persecution and exile of Russian Orthodox priests due to their opposition to the war in Ukraine and the Putin regime. This directly reflects negatively on the SDG target of promoting peaceful and inclusive societies, providing access to justice for all and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. The priests