Masks are finally off! Yesterday, in his address on the recognition of the so-called “LPR/DPR,” the leader of the aggressor power, Putin, practically repeated word for word all the statements of the UOC-Moscow Patriarchate about the tragedy of church schism and so-called discriminatory laws. I would like to note that Putin called the religious organization, led by Metropolitan Onufriy Berezovsky, the UOC of the Moscow Patriarchate.
Could this be a faux pas? Definitely not. The very fact that the church theme was included in Putin’s hour-long “lecture” testifies to the importance of the issue for the Kremlin’s aggressive policy toward Ukraine. Of course, this title was agreed with the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church, and is probably a matter of principle for both state and church leadership.
Silence on the part of the representatives of the Moscow Patriarchate in Ukraine testifies to their full consolidation with the Russian aggressor. For some reason we do not hear any protests against such a title! None of the church officials is commenting, and most importantly, protesting or shouting about Russian politicians interfering in Ukraine’s church affairs. Surprisingly, if Ukrainians refer to them as the Moscow Patriarchate, the speakers and propagandists of this organization immediately scream, foaming, “We are not the Moscow Patriarchate!” But here – not a word! It’s as if they’ve got water in their mouths!
I would like to emphasize that throughout this time, when everyone is talking about a possible full-scale invasion, the leader of the so-called “independent and sovereign Ukrainian Church” has not voiced a single appeal for peace and neither has he voiced a single prayer for Ukraine!!! Why didn’t he bless another forum for peace in Svyatogorsk Lavra? Moreover, when the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations met in Sofia of Kyiv on February 16 to pray together for Ukraine, Onufriy did not attend in person, sending his subordinate Viktor Kotsaba, who, instead of praying, started uttering some outright delusion!
All this, and much more, once again confirms that the so-called UOC-MP is the fifth column aimed to guard the Kremlin’s interests! The Kremlin itself, in the person of its top leadership, is no longer hiding it. What next? Perhaps Putin’s next lecture will be devoted to the “tragic church split in Ukraine” with a conclusion to protect Russian Orthodox believers? How will Onufriy and his team react to this? Will he be silent again, or will he meet the Russian occupiers bowing low, with bread and salt, at the accompaniment of Lavra bells?
Source: Religious expert Oleksandr Yefremenko
