ROC Priest Advises Russians to Love Themselves Less

Russian Orthodox Church priest Andrey Tkachev made a controversial statement, suggesting that believers should abandon self-love. In his view, this attitude will help people stay away from their own sins and egoism.

Negative consequences of attachment to the self

• Self-love leads to egoism
• Leads to sin
• Forms the state of a "lover of sin"

Tkachev claims that a person who loves themselves simultaneously loves the sin living within them. Thus, they become not just an egoist, but a "lover of sin," which hinders spiritual development.

The church figure urges believers to love themselves less. According to him, this approach helps maintain inner peace and avoid falling into sin.

The cleric's words about the inseparable link between self-love and love for sin have caused a wide resonance in society and have become a subject of discussion on social media.