海角大神

With parts of Florida in physical tatters after Hurricane Ian, residents are relying on cooperation and compassion as they begin working as communities on recovery.

For residents of one long-occupied area of eastern Ukraine, the dramatic shift in the war鈥檚 front lines meant it was time to flee their homes. A bombed-out bridge was their path to safety.

Often between extremes lies a more moderate option. In a number of cases this term, where the U.S. Supreme Court lands on that spectrum聽could transform American life.聽

Behind Iran鈥檚 release of its longest-held American prisoner Saturday is an attorney who strategizes relentlessly 鈥� and successfully 鈥� to get beyond 鈥淭he Price Is Right鈥� swaps to free prisoners in the darkest corners of the globe.聽聽

Humans often view animals as creatures to be owned as pets or pulled into service. For these Italian falconers, they are teammates.

In its military struggle to hold eastern Ukraine 鈥� by force and illegal annexation 鈥� Russia has also launched a campaign to ensure support from the dominant faith of Russian-speaking people. It is throwing money into the region through various pro-Kremlin organizations 鈥� with the largest recipient being the Russian Orthodox Church and its charities.

Since the takeover of Crimea in 2014, President Vladimir Putin has relied heavily on the church鈥檚 hierarchy to support his efforts to expand the borders of Russia by force and, lately, in the conscription of young men to fight in Ukraine. At the same time, Russian forces have destroyed more than 200 facilities of other religions in Ukraine 鈥� churches, mosques, synagogues 鈥� since the war began in February, according to Ukrainian officials.

The Kremlin鈥檚 main target for destruction is the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. It gained independence from the Russian Orthodox Church in 2019. That split, said Mr. Putin, was a weapon of 鈥渕ass destruction鈥� against Russian identity. 鈥淥ur spiritual unity has also been attacked,鈥� he wrote. Ukraine is home to the world鈥檚 third-biggest Orthodox congregation, after Russia and Ethiopia.

In contrast, Ukraine鈥檚 multiple religions have discovered a new unity based on an appreciation for religious liberty and the rights of individual conscience. 鈥淔aith should unite, and not divide,鈥� said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is Jewish.

鈥淥ur churches are now hand in hand,鈥� Father Vasily Vyrozub of the Church of the Holy Trinity in Odesa told the Irish Times. 鈥淲e are closer now than ever, despite our theological differences.鈥�

This contrast in how Russia and Ukraine are using religion is playing out in several other countries with 海角大神 Orthodox churches. Latvia, for example, has passed a law demanding that the Latvian Orthodox Church separate from the Moscow Patriarchate. In Moldova, the Orthodox faithful feel pressure to side with either the Russian church or an alternative, such as the Romanian Orthodox Church.

Even within the Russian Orthodox Church, a statement from nearly 300 priests opposed the church鈥檚 official endorsement of the war. The priests stated that only 鈥渇orgiveness and mutual reconciliation鈥� could bring peace between Russia and Ukraine.

The Ukraine war will be won by more than bullets and bullion. In a speech on Sept. 30, Mr. Putin claimed 鈥渢here is nothing stronger than the determination of millions of people who, by their culture, religion, traditions, and language, consider themselves part of Russia.鈥� Others, including inside Russia, see religion playing a healing role. Peace may be won in places of faith as much as on the battlefield.