The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC (MP)) did not distance itself from the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) even after the Russian missile strike on its cathedral in Odessa.
This was stated by Yuri Chornomorets, a Doctor of Philosophy and religious expert, in an interview with KYIV24.
“The separation of the UOC (MP) from the ROC is not only possible, but necessary. Discussions about this separation have been ongoing for many years. When the full-scale invasion began on February 24, everyone expected that the UOC (MP) would cease to be a part of the ROC and either join the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) or become an independent church. However, this did not happen. Even after the strike on the main cathedral in Odessa, nothing changed”, he said.
It should be noted that overnight on July 23, Russian occupiers hit the cathedral in Odessa, which is under the control of the UOC (MP), and damaged 25 historical architectural landmarks in the city’s historical center, which is protected by UNESCO.
Explanation: In Ukraine, there is essentially a Russian branch of the ROC, which, to gain the trust of Ukrainians, is referred to as the UOC (MP). At the same time, there is the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, also known as the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), which received the Tomos in January 2019 and is recognized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate. After the start of the full-scale Russian invasion, clergy of the UOC-MP often supported the war and the occupation of Ukraine. On the other hand, some UOC-MP parishes are transitioning to the jurisdiction of the OCU.
Photo: open sources
