At the Holy Trinity Saint Seraphim-Diveyevo Monastery in Nizhny Novgorod, Patriarch Kirill made a rare public statement about Russia’s nuclear weapons. He did this while addressing worshippers in the region where Venerable Seraphim of Sarov’s relics are held.
Kirill said the development of Russia’s atomic bomb in Sarov was a divine act. He claimed the scientists and workers there forged a 'shield of our homeland.' These people, he said, brought God’s grace to the country.
The Russian Federal Nuclear Center in Sarov is where the bomb was built. Kirill described the work as no accident. He said it saved the nation from 'terrible destruction,' which could have destroyed the country and its people.
This is not the first time the Patriarch has made such remarks. In 2023, he said nuclear weapons were created 'by God’s ineffable providence.' He also stated this power allowed Russia to remain independent.
Meduza reported this from a Russian source, using AI to translate from the original text. Their process involves human editors checking the final version before it goes online.