Discussing the potential Oslo negotiations w/ Iran, Israel to annex all of the West Bank, Russia LOSING in Armenia/Azerbaijan, Met. Onuphrys revoked citizenship, Africa/Asia updates, Mt. Athos & MORE!
I'm truly thankful for all the good news coming from the Russian front. Yes, there’s still bad news here and there, but it really does feel like with each passing week, things are steadily improving. One of the best developments recently—either this week or last—was hearing that North Korean soldiers have officially joined the battlefield alongside Russia. I even saw that photo of the North Korean and Russian troops standing together beneath their flags. The North Koreans looked genuinely enthusiastic.
That gave me a lot of hope. I've long dreamed that North Korea might one day become an Orthodox nation. Who knows—maybe some of these soldiers will encounter the Orthodox faith, convert, and eventually return home to spread it. There’s already a Korean Orthodox liturgy that exists. Some call the Orthodox church in Pyongyang merely a “propaganda center,” but I don’t believe that narrative. The church there is under the official care of Patriarch Kirill, which is significant. One day, I’d love to see a monastery established in North Korea—and if God allows, to visit it myself.
Unfortunately, the darker side of this week is the Ukrainian government’s ongoing and now barely concealed persecution of the canonical Orthodox Church. They’re no longer even pretending to hide it. The most shocking example is what they’ve done to His Eminence Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv. Stripping him of his citizenship is a blatant act of political and spiritual aggression. And what’s tragic is that Metropolitan Onuphry has never said a word against Ukraine. He’s done nothing but support his country, while maintaining his spiritual integrity. Yet still, they betray him—because betrayal is the only language they speak.
I read a theory that maybe Ukraine will try to use him as a bargaining chip, perhaps to exchange him for prisoners of war. Honestly, I hope that’s the case—because at least then there’s a chance Russia could rescue him. Imagine if he were brought to safety, interviewed publicly, and allowed to speak freely about the persecution he and his Church have endured. Metropolitan Onuphry has heard the confessions and testimonies of countless priests, deacons, monks, and bishops. He likely knows more about the persecution than anyone alive. The potential for him to speak out would be a powerful tool for truth.
A dream scenario? An interview between Metropolitan Onuphry and Tucker Carlson. If a war correspondent like Patrick Lancaster can pull numbers, imagine what a firsthand testimony from the Metropolitan of Kyiv could do. The spiritual weight and political implications would be tremendous.
Of course, I’m still fearful. I’m afraid Ukraine will do something even worse to this faithful confessor of Christ. We must pray for him fervently—pray that God delivers him from these trials and strengthens him in every way.
As for Serbia, I continue to hope for a political shift—perhaps even a coup or uprising against the current president, who in my view has become little more than a Western puppet. His constant courting of Western leaders, including multiple visits from Trump’s son, shows where his loyalties lie. He cares only for money, not for Orthodoxy or national dignity. I believe Serbia would be better off with a leadership more aligned with Russia—someone who truly represents Orthodox values and national sovereignty. What Russia helped accomplish in Georgia could be done in Serbia as well. The Serbian people are far more Orthodox in spirit than many realize.
Regarding Cyprus—there’s not much new to say. The persecution continues there as well, especially against a metropolitan who, if not for this political oppression, would likely have become the next Archbishop. We must remember him too, and keep all these faithful servants of Christ in our prayers.
Turning to Mount Athos, I want to be very clear: the holy monasteries on the Holy Mountain need no money from the hands of this wicked man who calls himself the Prime Minister of Greece. This person, who parades around while trampling on the Orthodox faith, has made himself an enemy of both the Church and the Greek people. He does not deserve to step foot on the Garden of the Mother of God. I am grateful that seven out of the thirteen monasteries have rejected his “assistance,” and I pray the rest will follow their lead. These monastics have survived for centuries—some for over a thousand years—without government funding. Yes, I understand the temptation, especially after the earthquakes and the damage caused to several monasteries. But no amount of destruction justifies giving in to the devil’s handouts. We must not compromise. Ever.
Before I forget, I also wanted to mention something important: the new Russian documentary The Mummy is incredibly well-made. I truly hope it gets an official English translation or subtitles, because many of us outside of Russia are eager to watch it. I hope you will translate this documentary just like you did The Death of Empire, which made a deep impact and helped spread truth far beyond Russia’s borders. I've heard excellent things about The Mummy, especially in how it confronts the ongoing scandal of Lenin’s preserved corpse—this demonic altar in the heart of Moscow.
I hope this documentary sparks a serious and public conversation in Russia about the complete dismantling of that unholy site. As for what to do with his body, I admit I’m conflicted. On one hand, I believe the most proper thing would be to give Lenin an Orthodox funeral. Not because he deserves honor—but because he desperately needs prayers. Several holy elders have testified how the demons rejoiced when he entered hell. That alone tells us the spiritual condition he likely met at his death. And yet, as Christians, we are called to pray for all, even the worst of sinners. Plus, knowing the kind of atheist and God-hater he was, he would hate being prayed for—which is all the more reason we should.
That said, there is another side to me that feels strongly that his body should be destroyed—burned fully and utterly. Not buried in a traditional grave, lest it become a cursed site of pilgrimage. I wouldn’t throw his ashes in a river or ocean either, out of fear they might spiritually pollute the water. My idea? Burn him, collect every trace of ash, seal it in an urn, and bury it deep in an uninhabited part of the Arctic. Let it be placed beneath ice and rock—sealed and forgotten. Just to make absolutely sure that no further spiritual corruption can come from his remains.
I'm truly thankful for all the good news coming from the Russian front. Yes, there’s still bad news here and there, but it really does feel like with each passing week, things are steadily improving. One of the best developments recently—either this week or last—was hearing that North Korean soldiers have officially joined the battlefield alongside Russia. I even saw that photo of the North Korean and Russian troops standing together beneath their flags. The North Koreans looked genuinely enthusiastic.
That gave me a lot of hope. I've long dreamed that North Korea might one day become an Orthodox nation. Who knows—maybe some of these soldiers will encounter the Orthodox faith, convert, and eventually return home to spread it. There’s already a Korean Orthodox liturgy that exists. Some call the Orthodox church in Pyongyang merely a “propaganda center,” but I don’t believe that narrative. The church there is under the official care of Patriarch Kirill, which is significant. One day, I’d love to see a monastery established in North Korea—and if God allows, to visit it myself.
Unfortunately, the darker side of this week is the Ukrainian government’s ongoing and now barely concealed persecution of the canonical Orthodox Church. They’re no longer even pretending to hide it. The most shocking example is what they’ve done to His Eminence Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv. Stripping him of his citizenship is a blatant act of political and spiritual aggression. And what’s tragic is that Metropolitan Onuphry has never said a word against Ukraine. He’s done nothing but support his country, while maintaining his spiritual integrity. Yet still, they betray him—because betrayal is the only language they speak.
I read a theory that maybe Ukraine will try to use him as a bargaining chip, perhaps to exchange him for prisoners of war. Honestly, I hope that’s the case—because at least then there’s a chance Russia could rescue him. Imagine if he were brought to safety, interviewed publicly, and allowed to speak freely about the persecution he and his Church have endured. Metropolitan Onuphry has heard the confessions and testimonies of countless priests, deacons, monks, and bishops. He likely knows more about the persecution than anyone alive. The potential for him to speak out would be a powerful tool for truth.
A dream scenario? An interview between Metropolitan Onuphry and Tucker Carlson. If a war correspondent like Patrick Lancaster can pull numbers, imagine what a firsthand testimony from the Metropolitan of Kyiv could do. The spiritual weight and political implications would be tremendous.
Of course, I’m still fearful. I’m afraid Ukraine will do something even worse to this faithful confessor of Christ. We must pray for him fervently—pray that God delivers him from these trials and strengthens him in every way.
As for Serbia, I continue to hope for a political shift—perhaps even a coup or uprising against the current president, who in my view has become little more than a Western puppet. His constant courting of Western leaders, including multiple visits from Trump’s son, shows where his loyalties lie. He cares only for money, not for Orthodoxy or national dignity. I believe Serbia would be better off with a leadership more aligned with Russia—someone who truly represents Orthodox values and national sovereignty. What Russia helped accomplish in Georgia could be done in Serbia as well. The Serbian people are far more Orthodox in spirit than many realize.
Regarding Cyprus—there’s not much new to say. The persecution continues there as well, especially against a metropolitan who, if not for this political oppression, would likely have become the next Archbishop. We must remember him too, and keep all these faithful servants of Christ in our prayers.
Turning to Mount Athos, I want to be very clear: the holy monasteries on the Holy Mountain need no money from the hands of this wicked man who calls himself the Prime Minister of Greece. This person, who parades around while trampling on the Orthodox faith, has made himself an enemy of both the Church and the Greek people. He does not deserve to step foot on the Garden of the Mother of God. I am grateful that seven out of the thirteen monasteries have rejected his “assistance,” and I pray the rest will follow their lead. These monastics have survived for centuries—some for over a thousand years—without government funding. Yes, I understand the temptation, especially after the earthquakes and the damage caused to several monasteries. But no amount of destruction justifies giving in to the devil’s handouts. We must not compromise. Ever.
Before I forget, I also wanted to mention something important: the new Russian documentary The Mummy is incredibly well-made. I truly hope it gets an official English translation or subtitles, because many of us outside of Russia are eager to watch it. I hope you will translate this documentary just like you did The Death of Empire, which made a deep impact and helped spread truth far beyond Russia’s borders. I've heard excellent things about The Mummy, especially in how it confronts the ongoing scandal of Lenin’s preserved corpse—this demonic altar in the heart of Moscow.
I hope this documentary sparks a serious and public conversation in Russia about the complete dismantling of that unholy site. As for what to do with his body, I admit I’m conflicted. On one hand, I believe the most proper thing would be to give Lenin an Orthodox funeral. Not because he deserves honor—but because he desperately needs prayers. Several holy elders have testified how the demons rejoiced when he entered hell. That alone tells us the spiritual condition he likely met at his death. And yet, as Christians, we are called to pray for all, even the worst of sinners. Plus, knowing the kind of atheist and God-hater he was, he would hate being prayed for—which is all the more reason we should.
That said, there is another side to me that feels strongly that his body should be destroyed—burned fully and utterly. Not buried in a traditional grave, lest it become a cursed site of pilgrimage. I wouldn’t throw his ashes in a river or ocean either, out of fear they might spiritually pollute the water. My idea? Burn him, collect every trace of ash, seal it in an urn, and bury it deep in an uninhabited part of the Arctic. Let it be placed beneath ice and rock—sealed and forgotten. Just to make absolutely sure that no further spiritual corruption can come from his remains.
—Paisios