In a move referred to as “historic” by MP Ina Shofshun, the Ukrainian parliament took unprecedented strides today by approving a bill that targets the Orthodox Church linked to the Moscow Patriarchate.
The bill, which received 267 votes, well beyond the majority threshold of 226, seeks to restrict any activity of religious bodies affiliated with countries perceived to be acting against Ukraine.
The momentum behind this decision has been building for years.
Ukraine, home to a predominantly Orthodox Christian population, has witnessed a shift in religious allegiances.
The former Russian-affiliated Church, once the primary religious institution in the country, has seen dwindling numbers in recent times.
This decline coincides with a surge in nationalistic sentiment and a distancing from Russian influences, according to a report from Orthodox Times.
A significant catalyst in this transformation was the formation of an independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church in 2018.
The situation became even more charged following the Russian invasion in February 2022.
Moscow, on its part, contends that its actions were in defense of the Russian-speaking communities in Ukraine.
They further criticize Ukraine for displaying prejudice against anything tied to Russia.
A survey from the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology in July 2022 revealed that only 4% of Ukrainians identify with the Moscow-affiliated Church, a steep decline from 18% in the preceding year.
Moreover, a recent poll from June 2023 showed that a staggering 66% of Ukrainians support the ban on the Moscow-loyal Church, Orthodox Times notes.
Though the Russian-tied Orthodox Church severed its ties with its Russian counterpart in May 2022, the Ukrainian government remains skeptical of this detachment.
They argue that the Church in Ukraine continues to be under Moscow’s influence.
Metropolitan Paul, the spiritual head of the Russian Orthodox followers in Ukraine, is under scrutiny by the Ukrainian Security Services (SBU).
He’s accused of “justifying the armed attack by the Russian Federation”.
In an escalating series of events, the head of Kyiv’s Lavra of the Caves monastery underwent house arrest and subsequent imprisonment before securing bail.
There’s been a concerted push by local authorities to terminate the UOC’s land leasing rights for churches.
They also reportedly embolden supporters of the independent Ukrainian Church to confront the Moscow-aligned priests aggressively.
As per recent updates, the SBU has levied criminal charges on 65 UOC clerics, sanctioned 17, and revoked citizenship for 19 bishops.
Yet, in spite of these actions, the State Service of Ukraine for Ethno-Politics and Freedom of Conscience reports that a substantial group, approximately 5-6 million Ukrainians, continues to follow the UOC.
