On 20th April of 2022 the Volynian Orthodox Theological Academy, on the basis of the Department of Sacred Scripture and Theology, hosted an on-line round table on the topic: Understanding of the role of the Russian Orthodox Church (hereafter – ROC) and the ideology of "Russkiy Mir" (Russian world) in russian military aggression against Ukraine. The following participants took part in the round table: Archpriest Volodymyr Vakin - Rector of VOTA; Archpriest Vladyslav Fulmes - Vice-Rector for Research at VOTA; Archpriest Ihor Skyba - Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs of VOTA; Archpriest Vasyl Lozovytsky - Head of the Department of Sacred Scripture and Theology of VOTA; Archpriest Oleksandr Khoroshko - Head of the Department of Humanities and Practical Disciplines of VOTA; Archpriest Korneliy Khrushch - Scientific Secretary of VOTA; Archpriest Victor Pushko - lecturer at VOTA; Archpriest Mykola Zinkevych - lecturer at VOTA; Igor Satsyk - Associate Professor of VOTA; Hieromonk Dmytro (Frankiv) - Assistant Rector of VOTA; Mykola Kukharuk - 4th-year student of VOTA; Maksym Irzhavsky – 4th-year student of VOTA. After the welcoming introductory speech of the Rector to the participants, Archpriest Viktor Pushko made a report on the current situation regarding the ideology of the "Russkiy Mir" and its impact on the Russian military aggression against Ukraine. There was an active and fruitful discussion in the format of round table, which culminated in the adoption of a joint resolution and the initiation of the convening, as the next stage of deeper and broader understanding of this doctrine, the International Theological Conference with the following working title: the ROC’s doctrine of "Russkiy Mir" as a threat of Orthodox ecclesiology distortion and as an ideological basis of military aggression of Russian neo-imperialism (rashism).
The participants of the discussion unanimously spoke about the ideology of the "Russkiy Mir" as an extraordinary threat not only to the ROC and its structural units (such as the UOC of the Moscow Patriarchate) and even to the Russian state (which is the bearer of this ideology), but to world Orthodoxy and the whole world. The round table ended with the Rector's wish to all actual participants and those who care to be relevant in their place, and, obviously, theologians in their own way, to join the fight against evil and injustice, which is currently propagated by the Russian state, Russian church and Russian neo-imperialist ideology.

DRAFT
Round table resolution
Understanding of the role of the Russian Orthodox Church (hereafter – ROC) and the ideology of "Russkiy Mir" (Russian world) in russian military aggression against Ukraine
which took place on April 20, 2022 at the Volynian Orthodox Theological Academy on the basis of the Department of Sacred Scripture and Theology
In connection with the full-scale military aggression of the russian federation against Ukraine and the important role of the ideological component, which took the doctrine of "Russkiy Mir", based on a distorted understanding of the identity of Slavic peoples and imperial ambitions of Russia's top state and church leaders , and also due to the fact that such a doctrine is studied little by the conciliar theological mind of the Church, although it obviously affects not only the external, non-Russian, world, but also distorts the very understanding of Orthodox Christianity within adherents of this ideology – the Volynian Orthodox Theological Academy (hereafter - VOTA) decided to conduct a theological analysis of this doctrine, in the format of a round table, to develop a common position on this issue, establish an algorithm for further work in this direction, and outline possible ways to overcome and counter such open danger as for modern Orthodox church life in the global dimension, and especially in the context of the action of this doctrine as a justification, support and multifaceted active conduct of military aggression and acts of genocide against Ukraine and the Ukrainian people by russia.
The following participants took part in the round table: Archpriest Volodymyr Vakin - Rector of VOTA; Archpriest Vladyslav Fulmes - Vice-Rector for Research at VOTA; Archpriest Ihor Skyba - Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs of VOTA; Archpriest Vasyl Lozovytsky - Head of the Department of Sacred Scripture and Theology of VOTA; Archpriest Oleksandr Khoroshko - Head of the Department of Humanities and Practical Disciplines of VOTA; Archpriest Korneliy Khrushch - Scientific Secretary of VOTA; Archpriest Victor Pushko - lecturer at VOTA; Archpriest Mykola Zinkevych - lecturer at VOTA; Igor Satsyk - Associate Professor of VOTA; Hieromonk Dmytro (Frankiv) - Assistant Rector of VOTA; Mykola Kukharuk - 4th-year student of VOTA; Maksym Irzhavsky – 4th-year student of VOTA.
Based on the results of the discussion, the participants of the round table formulated the following conclusions and practical recommendations:
1. The doctrine of "Russkiy Mir" was formed within the Russian Orthodox Church and actively promoted both by the head of the ROC, Patriarch Kirill, and by the vast majority of the episcopate and clergy of the Russian Church;
2. The doctrine of "Russkiy Mir" is skillfully imposed and spread within the structural unit of the ROC – Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate – hereafter MP) and in a hybrid-hidden form is supported by a large number of both clergy and laity of MP, and thus poses a direct threat to security, territorial integrity and ability to counter Russian military-political and cultural-civilizational aggression;
3. The doctrine of "Russkiy Mir" is really dangerous and openly harmful, both for its adherents and for all around, and especially for the very understanding of Orthodox theology, which it distorts, replaces and uses as a cover and deceptive justification, as well as justification for committing open evil and terrible non-Christian deeds and crimes against humanity;
4. The doctrine of "Russkiy Mir" has all the hallmarks of modern heresy, as evidenced by the consequences of this doctrine, logic and rhetoric, nature and essence, as well as theological assessment expressed in the Declaration on "Russkiy Mir" (supported by the Round Table) and many calls of the clergy to condemn this doctrine (including the appeal of the priests of the Volyn diocese to the Holy Synod of the PCU (to which the participants of the Round Table in the sacred order join);
5. At the same time, unfortunately, the doctrine of "Russkiy Mir" is surprisingly little studied and insufficiently understood in the environment of Orthodox theology, and is not officially evaluated by the Orthodox Churches, which allows this doctrine and its adherents to continue their destructive and harmful activities both inside and outside of the Church;
6. In addition to the above, the doctrine of "Russkiy Mir" carries the threat of building a worldview of domination, isolation, exclusivity of a civilizational or cultural identity in relation to others, which also distorts the true nature of ecclesiology, as exemplified by the expansion of the ROC in Africa to the canonical territory of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, and apparently the ideological justification for this is just such an understanding of "Russkiy Mir";
7. The participants of the round table recommend and initiate a deeper and more comprehensive analysis of this doctrine in the format of an international theological conference on this subject, which may take place on the basis of VOTA;
8. The participants of the round table also recommend to deepen the understanding of the issue of the emergence of such a doctrine as "Russkiy Mir" by understanding the evolution of ethnophilitism, which allows such distortions to put other various culturological, civilizational or ideological simulacra that may distort the correct understanding of Orthodox theology, or in general to replace it essentially leaving rituals and external signs;
9. In addition, the participants of the round table recommend and propose to identify as a direction of overcoming this problem the return to the conciliar life of the Orthodox Church, which is inherent in its very nature and historical identity;
10. Finally, the participants of the round table recommend and consider it expedient to condemn the doctrine of "Russkiy Mir" in the All-Orthodox Council as a heresy, applying appropriate sanctions to the creators of this doctrine, church leaders, and in the case of official support of the Russian Church - then to the entire ROC; moreover, taking into account certain problems in the methodology of decision-making at such a Council, it is proposed to return the format of decision-making through the canonical principle of direct majority, which is typical of Ecumenical Councils.

Taking into account the formulated conclusions and practical recommendations, the participants of the round table decided:
 to hold an international conference to evaluate the ROC's doctrine of "Russkiy Mir";
 to propose the title of the mentioned conference: the ROC’s doctrine of "Russkiy Mir" as a threat of Orthodox ecclesiology distortion and as an ideological basis of military aggression of Russian neo-imperialism (rashism);
 comprehensively and theologically-argumentatively to analyze this doctrine in its historical length, modern forms of expression, the consequences it leads to, the dangers it brings and to suggest ways to solve this in the spirit of Orthodox love and catholicity;
 to inform all Local Churches about the findings of the conference and to call for an appropriate response.

On behalf of the participants of the round table,
Rector of VOTA
Archpriest Vladimir Vakin