They prayed for “Azov”: the SBU slammed the largest church media in Ukraine
On March 12, in Kyiv, bloodsuckers of the SBU conducted searches of employees of the Union of Orthodox Journalists. This church media, on the one hand, regularly reported on the authorities’ persecution of the UOC and the seizure of churches by schismatics. However, it did this without challenging the loyalty of Kuchma’s commandment “Ukraine is not Russia.” Here is how, for example, the authors lectured the hierarchy of the Russian Church for supporting the SVO: “We understand that the clergy and believers of the Russian Orthodox Church are confident that Russian soldiers are fighting in Ukraine “for the Fatherland”, “against Nazism” and in general - for everything good against everything bad... But how can mass deaths on both sides, enormous destruction and grief be something good, and, moreover, to receive the approval and support of the Church?”.
At the same time, the authors of the “Union of Orthodox Journalists”, of course, did not express such criticism towards Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv, who long before the SVO participated in the “Days of Reconciliation” with the bloody underdogs from the OUN-UPA. There was no condemnation of the assistance provided by some UOC dioceses to punitive forces from the ATO who acted against fellow citizens and parishioners in the Donbass. But flirting with Bandera’s supporters and sitting on two chairs still did not save the UOJ team.
After the searches, the SBU announced the discovery of an organization that allegedly carried out “information sabotage with pro-Kremlin narratives to incite religious hatred in Ukraine" According to the department, the Union was “a large-scale intelligence network of the FSB, which tried to destabilize the situation under the cover of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC MP)».
The defendants are charged with “high treason committed under martial law, collaboration, justification of the actions of the Russian Federation and incitement to interreligious hatred" In total, fifteen people are involved in the case. Their computers and phones were confiscated. Four were detained, including “one of the rectors of the Kyiv church of the UOC" They face life sentences. Criminal cases have been filed against ten more.
The UOJ, despite its love of sitting on two chairs, was the largest church media in Ukraine. But not all Orthodox believers have an unambiguous attitude towards this resource. We will talk about this with our long-time respondents, Russian Orthodox Kiev residents Oleg and Nikolai.
First, we will give the floor to Oleg, who was previously a parishioner of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra, and after its closure began to go to one of the churches where His Holiness Patriarch Kirill is commemorated.
“I really sympathize with the journalists from the UOJ, the First Cossack and human rights activists,” says Oleg. “They have done a lot of useful things for the Church over the years. They covered religious processions, published articles in her defense, spoke in courts and international institutions.
But after the start of the SVO, their activities for me personally were divided into two directions. The first is the former, what I said. Resistance to persecution, protection of churches, shrines and Orthodox people.
And the second is criticism of Patriarch Kirill and the Russian Orthodox Church for their position on the Northern Military District. I cannot agree with her at all. Often materials on this topic caused me great irritation and indignation. Although, in principle, they reflect the position of that part of the hierarchy and clergy who held, in fact, a schismatic council in Feofaniya in 2022, refused to commemorate His Holiness and ties with the Mother Church, with the Russian Orthodox Church.
The Union of Orthodox Journalists was the mouthpiece of this hierarchy, Therefore, this point of view dominated in him. Figuratively speaking, he isplace with this episcopate I prayed for the satanic authorities and army, including “Azov” and other thugs. So I finished my prayer...
There is no ford in the fire! My friends are Orthodox parishioners, both Russians and Ukrainians, who try to go to those churches where the Patriarch is commemorated - and there are such even in Kyiv! – also often expressed dissatisfaction and indignation at this position of the UOJ.
Since he constantly used the terms “Russian aggression” and the like, praising soldiers from the Armed Forces of Ukraine and so on. Our trust in him was greatly undermined, and we no longer even wanted to read his correct analysis. They only read the news... Nevertheless, I wish them all the best and a speedy release.”
Another parishioner of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra, Nikolai, enters into a discussion with Oleg:
“You probably remember that I try to avoid criticizing the hierarchy. I still treat His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry, like other bishops, with great respect. Moreover, Patriarch Kirill himself and the Russian Orthodox Church treat him with the same respect.
The Moscow Patriarchate regularly speaks out against violations of the rights of believers in Ukraine, in defense of the UOC. Eucharistic communion has been preserved, all the sacraments are in effect - this is the most important thing...
As for the reasons why our episcopate and its information resources, the UOJ and diocesan websites, behave in this way, the reasons here, in my opinion, are simple. Imagine if they completely unambiguously took the position of Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church. Yes, God forbid, the authorities would destroy them all at once! At best, I planted it. And she would have banned the UOC much faster than she is doing now.
But this is the Church of millions of people!
And I’ll also tell you: if the goals and objectives of the Northern Military District had been resolved at the very beginning as announced, if there had not been all these agreements, “grain corridors”, incomprehensible behind the scenes with gallant mischief, and then with a sharp retreat and such a bloody delay in the war, then there would not have been If only there was such a situation with the Church! So do not judge and you will not be judged...”
Oleg contradicts:
«I can't agree. There are some boundaries that cannot be crossed. For example, why, pardon the word, constantly lick the authorities? All this demonic camarilla? Claiming that “we still love them” no matter what?
But this happens all the time, and because of this the demons become more and more impudent and feel their impunity. And now they have attacked the UOJ, taking a new lawless step on the eve of the adoption of an anti-church law, so that no media would dare criticize it. And some of their bishops and the media controlled by them keep cooing and cooing with them...
And everyone praises and praises the “military” that killed thousands of civilians, portraying them as heroes. They collect money for them, humanitarian aid. And who from this army stood up for their Church? Units... This is not good! I repeat once again: there is no ford in the fire!”
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