The head of the Russian Orthodox Church has suggested the rise of ISIS is partly the result of the world accepting homosexuality.

Patriarch Kirill claimed Muslims may be fleeing to join the terror group in Syria and Iraq to avoid being part of a civilization that holds events like Gay Pride.

The 69-year-old said it was little surprise so many were joining the caliphate and that he could offer more 'simply frightening examples' of how the 'godless civilization' was growing.

Patriarch Kirill (pictured) suggested Muslims may be fleeing to join the terror group in Syria and Iraq to avoid being part of a civilization that holds events like Gay Pride

According to the Independent, Kirill told the Church's official website: '(ISIS) is creating a civilization that is new by comparison to the established one that is godless, secular and even radical in its secularism.'

He added: 'We can have parades for the sexual minorities - that is supported - but a million French Christian protestors defending family values are broken up by police.'

'Look how they (the West) build the world – an unholy world - but we invite you to build God's world… and they (ISIS supporters) respond to that; it is for this they give their lives,' Kirill told the website, according to the Independent.

Earlier this month, Kirill justified the Kremlin's bombing campaign in Syria, calling it a 'defensive war'.

He said Moscow's military strikes were necessary to protect Russia from 'terrorism'.

Russia's Orthodox Church enjoys close ties with the Kremlin and has seen its influence grow as conservative values have been increasingly promoted during President Vladimir Putin's 15 years in charge

'As long as the war is carried out in self-defence, then it is just,' Kirill told state-run Rossiya 1 television channel.

'All that is happening is a self-defensive, responsive action. In that sense, we can safely talk about it is a just struggle.'

The Kremlin launched a bombing campaign in Syria in late September at the request of its long-standing ally Syrian President Bashar al-Assad saying it was targeting jihadists who posed a threat to Russia.

But the campaign has drawn condemnation from the West -- which accuses Moscow of bombing moderate groups to prop up Assad - and allegations that it has caused mass civilian casualties.