The Ban on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church: An Overview of the Situation
Schism in the Church — Schism in Society. How Ukraine is Being Artificially Destroyed from Within. The Chain of Events That Led to the Tragedy of the Country and Its People.
The much-suffering eastern branch of Christianity — Orthodoxy — endured a challenging 20th century that tested its very existence. The horrors of confiscation of church property, the closure of monasteries and churches, and the seizure of church lands during the 1917 Revolution and under the Bolsheviks left deep scars. One might think that the 21st-century democracies of Eastern Europe would bring peace to religion, but unfortunately, we are facing new challenges today, right in the sacred city for Orthodoxy — Kyiv.
In this article, I will delve into the overgrown field of national conflict, which remained quiet for many years but has recently flared up with explosive intensity. Each new headline further erodes Ukrainians’ faith — in their state, their fellow citizens, and God. It also damages faith in oneself, for when chaos tears apart the old world and your voice is unheard, it is devastating.
I hope to uncover whether this conflict was deliberately orchestrated — a cruel political maneuver allowing the ruling elites to further divide and conquer the population while waging two wars simultaneously: the external war with Russia and the internal war against democracy. After all, when elites fight their own people, can there be hope for victory in any war?
The Beginning: War in Donbass and conflict in the church (2014–2019)
The first tremors of the conflict began during the armed conflict in Donbass in 2014. and worsened over time. Until the Unification Council in December 2018, Ukraine had only the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP), which had existed since October 1990. At this council, Epiphanius (Dumenko) was elected Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine. In January 2019, the Ecumenical Patriarchate granted the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) a tomos of autocephaly, recognizing its independence.
The UOC-MP did not recognize the legitimacy of the Unification Council and continues to consider the OCU a non-canonical structure. Many parishes and monasteries remain under the jurisdiction of the UOC-MP, maintaining ties with the Moscow Patriarchate.
In August 2024, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the law “On the Protection of the Constitutional Order in the Sphere of Activities of Religious Organizations,” aimed at banning religious organizations associated with Russia. The law primarily targeted the UOC-MP, accused of supporting Russian aggression and spreading pro-Russian propaganda, according to Radio Svoboda.
Under the law, religious organizations connected to Russia must sever all ties with the Moscow Patriarchate within nine months or face a ban on their activities in Ukraine. The law aims to strengthen Ukraine’s spiritual independence and prevent Russia from influencing the country through religious structures, as reported by Korrespondent.
“At the height of societal tension, there is a clear understanding that the UOC is not a Ukrainian church.”
— Mykhailo Podolyak, Adviser to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine.
Society Divided
The law’s adoption split public opinion. According to polls by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS), about 66% of Ukrainians support banning the UOC-MP. This is unsurprising, given allegations of spies and FSB agents within the Ukrainian church.
Transitions and Conflicts
From 2022 to 2024, there has been a trend of religious communities transitioning from the UOC-MP to the OCU: 496 communities in 2022, 471 in 2023, and 218 in 2024. Despite these transitions, many parishes and monasteries remain under UOC control, preserving their connection to the Moscow Patriarchate.
However, these transitions have not always been peaceful. Sometimes they escalated into violent clashes, with those unrelated to religion storming churches and using violence against priests, monks, and parishioners. One of the most horrific incidents occurred in Cherkasy, where the Archangel Michael Cathedral transitioned to the OCU on October 17, becoming a garrison church and a center for national-patriotic education.
In response, UOC-MP priests and parishioners barricaded themselves inside the church early in the morning. Police arrived, followed by nationalists who stormed the building. Inside, violent clashes broke out. Nationalists used tear gas against UOC clergy and parishioners, with reports of beatings using sticks and threats with firearms. Many elderly women were injured, suffering fractures and mucosal burns. However, the church interior remained mostly undamaged.
The police opened a case for hooliganism related to the events in the church, said National Police representative Zoya Volk. But in most cases, police and the state, instead of resolving conflicts, take sides — often against citizens accustomed to the UOC due to territorial traditions.
This was evident during an attempted takeover of a church in Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi. Around midnight, nationalists arrived to break locks and seize the UOC Cathedral of the Savior Not Made by Hands. The police, present at the scene, negligently stood by.
“They went beyond the bounds of human nature.”
— Ioann Nalapko, builder of the church.“All seizures are carried out under the clear guidance, control, and strategic planning of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the police.”
— Artem Dmytruk, Ukrainian MP.
Conclusion
This article reveals a horrifying picture: a religious schism among Ukrainian citizens, accompanied by the inaction — or even participation — of the authorities. The ruthless violence against priests, monks, and women, carried out by people in military uniforms, adds to the tragedy. War-torn Ukrainian society easily turns on a new enemy like a pack of dogs. I call on Christians worldwide to pray for goodness and faith in God’s work. Amen.
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