Rivne Region is Aflame, or as Filaret Opens Second Front

Rivne region has become the epicenter of religious strives recently. Interfaith conflict escalated immediately after the Revolution of Dignity on the national resurgence wave. The self-proclaimed Patriarch Filaret used this fertile ground to once again set up two denominations to the confrontation and thus encourage the public to the idea of the formation of the so-called United Local Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which he wouldn’t mind to head. In addition, the unification of all Orthodox Churches would finally solve the main problem of the Kiev Patriarchate - its canonicity and recognition.

Analyzing the "hot spots" of interfaith confrontation in Rivne region and methods of their "ignition", you can confidently state that Filaret has almost succeeded in opening a second front on religious grounds. There are hardly any talks about unification or voluntary transition under the dissenters’ jurisdiction carried on in the villages, where interfaith conflicts arise. Moreover, the faithful of the UOC actively stand up for their rights in court.

For example, a religious community of the UOC in Ptycha village, Dubno district, Rivne region, has been appealing their right to the church in court. And while litigation continues, the Orthodox Christians humbly pray in the premises adopted for this purpose, waiting for a regulation that will either confirm their right to the religious building or vice versa recognize the ownership of the UOC - "KP".

Meanwhile, adherents of Filaret regularly violate different agreements and laws, arbitrarily cut off the locks on the church gate and picket Rivne regional state administration with the demand to pass the church to them. KP followers resort to practices that are not characteristic of Christians: abuse, threats and mob law. The long-lasting confrontation in the village resulted in split up families, broken friendships and hostilities among fellow villages: Ptycha is at war.

Now let’s try to disengage from the situation and envision that due to Filaret such conflicts could ignite almost in every Ukrainian village (on the official site of the UOC - "KP" almost every day new schemes of church raiding are displayed). Who will defuse them?

As a priest, I would like to call all believers, without exception, to behave like the Bible teaches us: "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Mk.12: 31). Hatred, contempt and aggression have not saved anyone, and if these methods even led to the ultimate goal, they gave a long aftertaste of bitterness, pain and sufferings.

Archpriest Viktor Zemlianyi,
Senior priest of the Holy Resurrection Church of Ostroh, Rivne Eparchy

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