Kirill Govorun declared the “anti-Christian nature” of traditional values

Kirill Govorun, a former cleric of the Russian Orthodox Church who has been defrocked, has stated that traditional values in their classical understanding are “anti-Christian in nature” and harmful to the unity of Ukrainian Orthodoxy. According to the former archimandrite of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Orthodox clergy, which actively promotes traditional values, does not adhere to them. Publicist and deacon of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Andriy Glushchenko drew attention to Govorun’s statements on his Facebook account.

“Traditional values work against the unity of Ukrainian Orthodoxy. They work as a tool for dividing Ukrainian Orthodoxy. And this also shows their, in my opinion, unchristian nature. If not to say more harshly: anti-Christian nature,” – Govorun said.

Govorun added that “traditional values” (or the idea of such) contradict the Gospel, are unchristian in nature, and even more than that—they are anti-Christian. To back up his words, Kirill Govorun gives different arguments, like: Russia is waging an inhumane war against Ukraine and is against the West, supposedly in the name of “traditional values”; the Orthodox clergy (primarily the Russian Orthodox Church and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church), which verbally promotes “traditional values,” often does not adhere to them at all in their personal lives.

“The idea of traditional values continues to divide Ukrainian society. Therefore, I think that this is a very complex and dangerous idea, in my opinion,” – added the former priest.

Recall that on July 30, 2025, for the first time in the history of the Anglican Church, a woman was elected to the position of Archbishop of Wales. The new Archbishop of Wales is 66-year-old Cherry Elizabeth Vann, who is an open lesbian and has been in an LGBT marriage for the past 10 years.