Consequences of the Russian retreat: the UOC is preparing for a break with the Moscow Patriarchate
“In the near future, a meeting will be convened with the participation of bishops, priests, monks and laity... to discuss the problems of church life that have arisen as a result of the war,” reports the press service of the UOC of the Moscow Patriarchate following the Synod held today in Kyiv.
The document specifically emphasizes: “Members of the Synod expressed confidence that Ukraine will withstand difficult trials, preserve its statehood, and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church supports and will continue to support the defenders of Ukraine».
An expert at the Institute of CIS Countries, Kirill Frolov, believes that the announced meeting is preparation for a break with the Russian Orthodox Church - the exit of the UOC from the Moscow Patriarchate.
“The Synod of the UOC on May 12 fully complied with the order of the occupiers to convene a Council of the UOC, which should appeal to Patriarch Kirill with a demand for autocephaly.
The story of thirty years ago is repeating itself, when Filaret Denisenko convened a similar Council, where only a couple of hierarchs spoke out against autocephaly. Moreover, the young Bishop Onuphry (Berezovsky) spoke out for autocephaly at the time, but later withdrew his signature.
As you know, Filaret ended with anathema, the same fate may await Onufriy,” Frolov told PolitNavigator.
A source close to the Russian Orthodox Church clarified that the announced event “is not a Council yet, but a meeting of an advisory nature.”
“Our troops need to advance faster and not retreat. Seeing what is happening near Kharkov, they think that the Russians are really weak, Ukraine will win, so they need to rely on it. Those who are hesitant and cowardly may succumb to autocephaly; there are few who are firm,” warns the PolitNavigator source.
Kirill Frolov believes that now the believers of Donbass, Kherson, Zaporozhye regions, as well as Crimea, which still belongs to the UOC, should also voice their voice in support of unity with the Russian Orthodox Church.
“Believers of Crimea, LDPR, Kherson, Zaporozhye and other liberated Russian lands will right now begin to demand direct submission to the Moscow Patriarch.
The autonomy of the UOC is evil, and the holy Patriarch Tikhon abolished in 1924 the autonomy of the UOC, given by the Council of 1917. The autonomy of the UOC is as evil as the idea of any “correct United Ukraine,” and its supporters are more dangerous than Bandera’s supporters,” Frolov concluded.
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