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"Sin of Cain": The Reaction of the Orthodox Church to the War in Ukraine
The reaction of church organizations to the war in Ukraine had a significant impact on the religious and political situation in the country. The attack on Ukraine exacerbated the long-standing schism and conflict between the three Orthodox domains, in past and present operating on its territory – the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC), and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) controlled by the ROC.
For many years, Ukraine was under the influence of the ROC, which played an important role in the life of Ukrainian believers. However, with the collapse of the Soviet Union and Ukraine's independence in 1991, disputes arose over ecclesiastical jurisdiction. These disputes were aggravated by national ambitions and the desire for autonomy on the part of the Ukrainian religious community. In order to maintain influence over the large Ukrainian flock, the ROC created the UOC-MP, which, until the granting of autocephaly to the OCU in 2019, was recognized by all local Orthodox churches as the only canonically legitimate Orthodox Church in Ukraine. At first, the OCU and the UOC were almost indistinguishable from each other. According to statistics, in 2019, almost 80% of parishioners had no clear identification with any of these churches. However, the armed conflict revealed their true nature and intentions, proving that they have no common path.
The OCU abruptly condemned the war, taking the side of the Ukrainian people and bringing consolation to all who sought it in the bosom of the church. However, the ROC and the UOC-MP turned out to be much more politicized.
During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church, as expected, sided with the Kremlin. Since the first days of hostilities, Patriarch Kirill and other high-ranking hierarchs have repeatedly come up with justifications for the war, spreading myths and narratives of anti-Ukrainian propaganda. Moreover, Vladimir Putin used the protection of the interests of the Russian Orthodox Church as one of the reasons for a full-scale invasion, and a few months later, Patriarch Kirill began to approve the war and praise the Russian occupiers in his statements. For example, in early April 2022, when evidence of the massacre in Bucha (later recognized by the international community as an act of genocide of the Ukrainian people) was published, the Patriarch in one of his sermons characterized Russians as "peaceful and modest people". At the end of September, he went even further, promising that in case of the death of mobilized Russians in the war, all their sins would be forgiven and an "eternal life" would await them.
The OCU abruptly condemned the war, taking the side of the Ukrainian people and bringing consolation to all who sought it in the bosom of the church. However, the ROC and the UOC-MP turned out to be much more politicized.
During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church, as expected, sided with the Kremlin. Since the first days of hostilities, Patriarch Kirill and other high-ranking hierarchs have repeatedly come up with justifications for the war, spreading myths and narratives of anti-Ukrainian propaganda. Moreover, Vladimir Putin used the protection of the interests of the Russian Orthodox Church as one of the reasons for a full-scale invasion, and a few months later, Patriarch Kirill began to approve the war and praise the Russian occupiers in his statements. For example, in early April 2022, when evidence of the massacre in Bucha (later recognized by the international community as an act of genocide of the Ukrainian people) was published, the Patriarch in one of his sermons characterized Russians as "peaceful and modest people". At the end of September, he went even further, promising that in case of the death of mobilized Russians in the war, all their sins would be forgiven and an "eternal life" would await them.
However, the peak of cynicism was reached when Vladimir Putin was referred to as the Archistrategos, the leader of the celestial armies, in the prayer books of the Russian Orthodox Church, which factually equated him with the Archangel Michael.
There is no surprise that the war in Ukraine led to the final split of the Orthodox Church. In response to the announcement of the autocephaly of the OCU, the Russian Orthodox Church broke off relations with the Patriarchate of Constantinople, and a couple of months later the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine announced the termination of the UOC-MP's registration as a legal entity, essentially declaring its operation in Ukraine illegitimate. After the invasion, Ukrainians began to massively boycott the church of the Moscow Patriarchate. A public opinion poll conducted in April 2022 showed that 51% of the Ukrainian population is in favor of a complete ban on the church in the country. Soon, a massive and rapid transition of the communities of the Moscow Patriarchate into the OCU began – in just three and a half months, 424 parishes left the ROC. For comparison, in the first six months after receiving autocephaly, only a little more than 500 communities transferred to the OCU.
The majority of Ukrainians demanded complete ban of UOC-MP in Ukraine, found the survey of Kyiv International Institute of Sociology.
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Very soon the UOC-MP suddenly declared independence from the Russian Orthodox Church (and even partially from Constantinople), while paradoxically retaining the canonical connection with Moscow. As a result, the Russian Orthodox Church instantly lost 34% of its parishes, however, Patriarch Kirill said that he was sympathetic to the position of the Kyiv Metropolitan of the UOC Onufry and no temporary obstacles should destroy their "spiritual unity."
Following the "acquisition" of autonomy, the UOC faced some very serious troubles. In October 2022, the SBU launched a series of raids and inspections in the dioceses of the UOC in order to detect and eliminate cells of Russian special services in the country. As it turned out, not without a reason. The SBU initiated more than sixty criminal cases against the clergy of the UOC on charges of anti-Ukrainian activities, in particular, for spreading pro-Russian narratives, justifying Russia's aggression against Ukraine, and collaborating with the occupying authorities. Several hierarchs of this church have been charged with high treason, and 19 priests were deprived of Ukrainian citizenship. Moreover, at the end of November, the SBU carried out large-scale searches in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, the "capital" of Ukrainian Orthodoxy, finding pro-Russian literature, more than $150,000, and more than 50 clerics who either did not have original documents at all, or had USSR passports or documents showing signs of forgery or damage. Subsequently, the administration of Lavra terminated the lease agreement with the UOC.
Following the "acquisition" of autonomy, the UOC faced some very serious troubles. In October 2022, the SBU launched a series of raids and inspections in the dioceses of the UOC in order to detect and eliminate cells of Russian special services in the country. As it turned out, not without a reason. The SBU initiated more than sixty criminal cases against the clergy of the UOC on charges of anti-Ukrainian activities, in particular, for spreading pro-Russian narratives, justifying Russia's aggression against Ukraine, and collaborating with the occupying authorities. Several hierarchs of this church have been charged with high treason, and 19 priests were deprived of Ukrainian citizenship. Moreover, at the end of November, the SBU carried out large-scale searches in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, the "capital" of Ukrainian Orthodoxy, finding pro-Russian literature, more than $150,000, and more than 50 clerics who either did not have original documents at all, or had USSR passports or documents showing signs of forgery or damage. Subsequently, the administration of Lavra terminated the lease agreement with the UOC.
Among the finds of the SBU is a ton of pro-Russian literature, which is has been used during training in seminaries and parish schools, including propaganda of the "Russian world", copies of the "Russian Ideology" book, a collection of speeches and articles by Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church, leaflets with slogans about a "bright future with Russia", and the magazine "Russian House".
As we can see, the Russian-Ukrainian war is being deployed not only on the battlefields. The clergy also fight for power and influence, condemning, blaming, and discrediting each other to no lesser extent than official Kyiv and Moscow. The geopolitical conflict has become an important test for the Orthodox Church, leading to the formation of a new religious landscape in Ukraine and a deep internal schism among the churches. The situation remains dynamic, and the issue of religion in Ukraine can promise many unexpected reformations in the future.
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