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| Source: archons.org |
Athenagoras Human Rights Award Recipient Yulia Navalnaya Featured on 60 Minutes As Her Martyred Husband’s Prison Memoir is Published
The Ecumenical Patriarch, Bartholomew, through the Archons within the Greek Archdiocese of North America, recognized the heroism of Yulia Navalnaya, widow of the martyred anti-Putin dissident (and Orthodox Christian) Alexei Navalnyi. She continues to support whatever opposition is possible against the very undemocratic and authoritarian regime of Vladimir Putin in Russia. This means that her life is also in danger. Yulia Navalnaya was also featured on the CBS program, 60 Minutes, just this last Sunday. It is about a 13 minute segment, and I have provided a link below. It is definitely worth watching (though the commercials are more than a bit irritating).
https://www.cbs.com/shows/video/WBLkrK7nPB9lFb_dzcWV0HCA0Y8Ft237/
The Russian Orthodox Church has done nothing to honor or remember the great sacrifice of one of its own members. In fact, they ignored his death when it occurred, and Navalnyi was barely able to be honored with an Orthodox funeral. Further, a Russian Orthodox priest who held a Memorial Service for him was banished into exile from his parish. This is the price that the Church must pay for aligning itself with such a repressive and authoritarian regime. This brings shame, not glory to the Church.
It is disappointing that the Orthodox Church in America did not openly acknowledge the witness of Alexey Navalnyi at the time of his martyric death; nor has it honored Yulia Navalnaya, or at least recognize her brave witness to the world, in any discernible public manner. A little show of courage in supporting public figures of deep moral integrity would go a long way in strengthening the Church's moral witness to the world.
