Two hundred new churches currently being built in Moscow are not enough, Patriarch Kirill, Bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church, believes, Russian media reports..

“Nowhere in the world, in any city, in any capital, 200 Christian churches are being built today.. And we are aware that 200 is not enough, and there are already plans to build more. Why? Because the need of the people is there,” he said on January 8 after the liturgy in the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin..

[see_also ids\u003d"

The program for the construction of Orthodox churches in Moscow was launched in 2009 by the Russian Orthodox Church and the government of Moscow. It provides for the construction of temples within walking distance in the sleeping areas of the city. It is alleged that the construction is carried out at the expense of extrabudgetary funds and donations from parishioners..

According to those responsible for the construction, 89 churches are currently ready, and the main construction and installation work has been completed at three more sites..

Russia uses religion as a weapon and uses it to carry out information operations to discredit Ukraine, according to a January 7 report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). The Kremlin itself has actually confirmed that the ROC, which controls the UOC-MP, supports the Russian invasion.. In his Christmas speech, Putin thanked the Russian Orthodox Church for the constant support of Russian troops in Ukraine.