The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill (Vladimir Gundyayev), has urged believers to refrain from material requests in their prayers. During a sermon delivered on February 15, 2026, at Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow, he emphasized that turning to God with requests for money, career advancement, or new material possessions is inappropriate.
This is reported by Finway
Patriarch Calls Prayers for Money “Incorrect”
Patriarch Kirill stressed that requests for financial well-being, salary increases, or the purchase of a new car do not receive responses from heaven. In his view, such prayers contradict the essence of spiritual life and should not be voiced by the faithful.
“One should not pray for something that is simply wrong to ask for,” the patriarch taught.
According to him, the main purpose of prayer lies in faith, not in the pursuit of material gain. He advised parishioners to focus on developing relationships with loved ones, raising children, and strengthening their faith, assuring them that it is in these areas that they should expect support from above.
Kirill’s Financial Wealth and Calls for Asceticism
Against the backdrop of such statements, publications about Vladimir Gundyayev’s personal wealth appear particularly contrasting. Estimates from various media and independent investigators suggest that his fortune may range from 4 to 8 billion US dollars.
Patriarch Kirill has repeatedly been linked to ownership of elite real estate, private jets, and yachts. Despite this, he continues to urge Russians to avoid prayers for material prosperity and continues to use church rhetoric to justify the actions of the Russian authorities, including the aggression against Ukraine, which he previously referred to as “sacred.”