Metropolitan Yevstratiy Zorya of the OCU suggested that the UOC (MP) show that it does not recognize the anathema imposed on Hetman Ivan Mazepa by holding a memorial service. In his opinion, boxer Oleksandr Usyk, close to the UOC (MP) Primate Metropolitan Onufriy, can help to this end.
That’s according to his Facebook post.
Metropolitan Yevstratiy says the Ukrainian Church has never recognized Mazepa’s anathema “as something real that needs to be ‘lifted’.”
“You cannot ‘lift the anathema’, because that would mean that it was in fact imposed. However, this never happenned because Mazepa did not commit any act for which the Church declares an anathema. Unlike the drunkard, libertine, and blasphemer Peter Romanov, Mazepa was a pious man and a sincere patron of the Kyiv Metropolis,” the bishop explained.
In 2018, the Ecumenical Patriarchate also certified in a special statement that such an anathema has never exister, Metropolitan Yevstratiy added.
He suggested that the UOC (MP) certify that they do not recognize the anathema either, by performing a Liturgy with prayers for the repose of the hetman’s soul “openly and with media reports.” The service should be led by the Primate of the UOC (MP), Metropolitan Onufriy, so that the Russians could not distort the event, believes the bishop.
In his opinion, star boxer Oleksandr Usyk, who, as Bishop Yevstratiy noted, is in close contact with the Primate of the UOC (MP), could convince Metropolitan Onufriy to proceed with the move.
Background
Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk, having defeated UK’s Tyson Fury on December 22, raised in the rink a saber made by the order of Hetman Ivan Mazepa.
The saber, dating back to the 17th century, is kept in the Chernihiv Regional Historical Museum. Mazepa presented it to Osavul Savych for good service.
The event sparked discussion on social media, as it is known that Usyk is a parishioner of the UOC (MP).
Back in 2009, the then head of the UOC (MP) external relations department, Archimandrite Kyrylo (Hovorun), confirmed the possibility of lifting the anathema off Mazepa. However, it is unclear whether this ultimately happened.
Anathema on Hetman Mazepa
The Russian Orthodox Church excommunicated Hetman Ivan Mazepa of the Zaporozhian Host on November 12, 1708, by order of Tsar Peter I. This happened after Mazepa sided with the Swedish King Charles XII in the Northern War.
The text of the anathema stated that Mazepa “imitates the evil of Judas,” “left the Orthodox country and joined the adversary,” and “returned evil for good, and for beneficence — theft.”
None of the Ukrainian churches ever recognized the validity of that anathema and continued to pray for the repose of the Hetman.
In June 2023, the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra held its first memorial service for its patron, Hetman Mazepa.
