Legislation enacted in Ukraine prohibits churches affiliated with Russia
In a significant move, the Ukrainian parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, has passed a law allowing for the banning of churches with links to Russia. The law, agreed upon by 265 out of 450 members, is expected to come into force 30 days after publication, pending President Volodymyr Zelensky's signature.
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), one of the largest Orthodox denominations in Ukraine, has found itself under scrutiny due to its links with the Moscow Patriarchate. The UOC is officially headed by Patriarch Kirill, who has fervently supported the ongoing war. According to the Ukrainian government, the UOC also maintains ties with the Moscow government. However, the UOC denies these allegations.
The UOC's connection to Russia is deeply rooted in Orthodox views on the church. Orthodox theology considers it difficult to cut the affiliation with the Patriarchate, as this connects the church with World Orthodoxy. Moreover, the sacraments, considered the core of the church in Orthodox theology, would be questionable if the UOC were to cut its ties to Russia.
The new law empowers judges to act against religious organizations with ties to Russia. If a religious organization is found to have such ties, it has 90 days to break them, or it will be banned in Ukraine. The State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience will determine these connections.
Ukrainian state security agencies, alongside intelligence services and international investigative bodies, are primarily responsible for investigating and clarifying connections between banned religious organizations in Ukraine and Russia. Academic researchers and political analysts, such as political scientists like Marlène Laruelle, also contribute analysis based on open-source and intelligence information.
Recently, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has issued statements condemning the support for the Russian invasion by Patriarch Kirill and the Russian Orthodox Church. The latest statement, published on August 17, condemns the Russian Orthodox Church for becoming an accomplice to the Russian invaders' crimes against humanity.
This development comes as the UOC faces a significant shift, with some individual parishes breaking off and joining the Orthodox Church of Ukraine since the invasion. From an Orthodox view, it is impossible for a local church to claim to be the "true church of Christ" without being connected to any synod or other congregation.
The article was first published by CNE.news and re-published with permission in Evangelical Focus. The author of the article is Joe-Lize Kruijsse-Brugge.
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