A senior bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church, who is often described as a spiritual adviser to President Vladimir Putin, has referred to the late American conservative Charlie Kirk as a “martyr,” suggesting that his death may serve as a source of inspiration for Russian missionaries.
Metropolitan Tikhon Shevkunov, in an article posted on the Orthodox website pravoslavie.ru, described Kirk’s death as “the most powerful sermon and the culmination of his mission.” He praised Kirk for his Christian faith and conservative ideals, which have gained favor in the Kremlin as a response to Western liberalism.
Shevkunov remarked, “Kirk’s martyrdom has invigorated the beliefs and aspirations of millions of supporters and allies,” recognizing that before his passing earlier this month, Kirk was relatively unknown in Russia.
Kirk, a supporter of former U.S. President Donald Trump and the founder of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, was shot and killed while speaking at a university in Utah on September 10.
Shevkunov contrasted Kirk’s “principled character and respect for young people” with what he described as the tendency among some Russian missionaries to adopt “Western-style promotional tactics” to appeal to younger audiences.
“It’s well-known that we still struggle with a persistent inclination to imitate the West, which can at times lead to approaches that directly contradict the teachings of the Gospel,” he noted.
“Some Orthodox missionaries, undoubtedly driven by good intentions, attempt to gain favor by emulating modern Western preachers,” Shevkunov added. “They try to align with young people’s preferences, often compromising their mission for the sake of crude humor and superficial ‘missionary tricks.’”
Shevkunov’s connections with Putin have come under scrutiny since the late 1990s, when the future president first met him at a Moscow monastery known to be frequented by agents of the Federal Security Service (FSB).
In 2023, he was recorded accompanying Putin on an unexpected visit to Crimea, commemorating the ninth anniversary of its annexation from Ukraine. Later that year, he was appointed to lead the Crimean diocese.
The Kremlin has indicated that the two men share a close relationship.
