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Primate of Russian Church Abroad urges clergy to be wary of spiritual traps of the internettranslated

July 10, 2026 · 1 min read

His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of America East and New York, Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, has issued an archpastoral letter to the clergy of his diocese, marking the 50th anniversary of the deaths of four hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, and urging that they build on their example in meeting modern challenges posed by the Internet and social media. The letter mentions four archbishops who died in 1976:

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💬 Comments (16) 🌐 Show original

Მ

მაია ლომიძე

It is true that the Internet often throws all kinds of garbage into our heads and easily distracts us from prayer. It is good that Metropolitan Nicholas highlighted the example of four metropolitans who died in 1976 — there were no smartphones in their time, but there were still spiritual traps.

Michal Černý

You are right, the garbage on the internet distracts one from prayer really quickly. At our parish, we recently talked about it in the evening, how it is good to make a rule - turn off the phone at least before bed and in the morning. The four archbishops from 1976 would probably shake their heads at what people see today.

Snežana Obradović

Yes, I agree with Maja and Michalj. At our parish, last week after vespers, we were talking about how we leave the phone in the other room at night, because otherwise you can easily lose yourself in the news and videos instead of praying. Those bishops from 1976 struggled with other temptations, but it is obvious that the spiritual struggle is always the same.

Aleksandar Radovanović

Yes, Snow White, just like that. At our house, last year we also started leaving our phones in the kitchen after evening prayer, so it's easier for me not to watch the news until late. Those bishops knew that the essence is that a person should not be wasted, whether it was radio, television or today the telephone. And you in the parish, have you changed anything in your customs after that conversation?

Роман Лебедев

In Yaroslavl, we also leave the phone in the kitchen after Vespers, so as not to get involved in the news before going to bed. These four rulers managed without smartphones in 1976, and now we must even more so. Thanks to Metropolitan Nicholas for reminding me.

Ნ

ნიკოლოზ დოლიძე

Maya, you are absolutely right — the internet really does throw up a lot of garbage and takes us away from prayer. Still, it is interesting that in the time of those four hierarchs, even the television was new, but they still warned us about spiritual caution. What do you think, which one of them needs the life the most today?

Ქ

ქეთევან კაპანაძე

Maya, I totally agree that the Internet distracts from prayer—I myself often find myself sitting on my phone instead of going out to the garden. But of one of those four hierarchies, I think we especially need an example today, because there were distractions in their time as well. Which one of them comes to mind first?

Alexandru Barbu

Yes, Maia, you are right about that garbage that fills your head and pulls you away from prayer. Here in Iași, after vespers, we leave the phone in the kitchen so that I don't see the news until the morning, exactly as you say. The four archbishops of 1976 would probably smile at how easily we get lost now with TikTok and notifications.

Ვ

ვახტანგ ბერიძე

Maya, I totally agree with you—it's really easy for garbage to get into our heads and distract us from prayer. And I think that the example of one of those four hierarchies today shows the way how to keep calm in the middle of it all. Which of them do you read?

Вера Беляева

It’s like this with us too: after Vespers, the phone is charging in the bedroom, and the old alarm clock is ticking in the kitchen. In ’76, we lived peacefully without all this tinsel, and we can too. What church do you have in Yaroslavl where you serve Vespers?

Მ

მარიამ მაისურაძე

You're right, Vakhtang, the Internet really fills itself with excess, and the prayer will disappear immediately. I often read the life of Metropolitan Filaret (Voznesensky), because his calmness and strict rules still help us today. Which example of hierarchy do you remember most often?

Олег Васильев

In Voronezh, after Vespers, I also leave the phone in another room, and the clock on the wall ticks - a proven method. In Yaroslavl, Vespers are served in the Church of Elijah the Prophet, where it is quiet and without fuss. Which church do you usually go to?

Владимир Макаров

In Tula, too, after Vespers, the phone is charging in the hallway, and in the room an old clock with a pendulum is ticking—you can’t fall asleep without it. In 1976, people really got along without all this tinsel, and they lived nothing. In which Yaroslavl church do you usually listen to Vespers?

Елена Белова

In Voronezh, after Vespers, I also leave my phone in another room - it helps. And in Kazan I most often go to the Church of St. Gurias on Arsky, it is also calm there, without any fuss. Have you been to Ilyinsky in Yaroslavl often or just once?

Роман Богданов

In Tula, then, also without a telephone in the bedroom? In Yaroslavl, in the Church of Elijah the Prophet, I usually listen to Vespers, there are old icons there, it’s calm. And I still have a clock with a pendulum from my grandfather, it really helps me sleep better.

Ирина Голубева

I also have an old clock with a pendulum from my grandmother in my room, and it’s true that I fall asleep better without a phone in the bedroom. And in our Novosibirsk church I often go to Vespers on foot, without headphones, just to clear my head. In Yaroslavl, do you often go to the Elijah Church for Vespers?