The Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine realizes that Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will come to Ukraine anyway and that in the status of the “Ukrainian Orthodox Church”, not the ROCinU, they can be considered schismatics, according to the canons of world Orthodoxy.
That’s according to religious journalist Kateryna Shchetkina who spoke with RFE/RL.
She believes, had the patriarch’s visit not been planned, the Moscow Patriarchate would not have staged a procession involving provocative slogans and statements, as if it is a political force.
“If we hadn’t expected the arrival of Patriarch Bartholomew for the celebration of the 30th anniversary of independence, then, perhaps, the UOC-MP (ROCinU – ed.) would have refuse to set up a procession at such an epidemiologically unfavorable moment,” said Shchotkina.
At the same time, she stressed that the representatives of the ROCinU realized that the visit would take place anyway.
“I don’t think [hindering] it is in their power. Maybe they would like to, but they realize that he will come anyway. Processions, delegations, and demonstrations are attempts to remind that they have their own interests and to make sure that their interests be taken into account. Bartholomew is very well aware that there are people here who want to see him come, he has an invitation from the Head of State. He has every reason to be sure that he will have a warm welcome here,” said the expert.
But in such a difficult time in Ukraine’s history, when there’s war in the east and children of Ukraine are dying for independence, the ROCinU’s demarche and the leadership’s statement that they will not celebrate this date look like a betrayal.
It is hoped that some well-meaning supporters of such a policy of the Moscow Patriarchate will draw conclusions. Because it is obvious that disrespect of the fallen heroes, demonstrated by the leaders of the MP at the celebrations, before and now, testifies to the fact that this wing of Christianity is moving toward a fringe.
