Expert: Arrival of Phanar head to aggravate church situation

Soldiers of the National Corps destroying the fence of the priest’s house of the UOC in Zolochiv with sledgehammers. Photo: the National Corps website

The degree of aggravation of the church situation in Ukraine depends on how far the Ukrainian government is ready to go to fulfil the US demand to oust the UOC, and what requests Patriarch Bartholomew has for his visit to Ukraine, said Andrey Zolotarev, the Ukrainian political expert, head of the “Third Sector” centre in a commentary to the UOJ. 

The expert believes that due to the position of the Americans, the issues of renaming the UOC and other persecutions against the Church will continue. Although it is possible that the Ukrainian authorities will simulate work in this direction, fearing an exacerbation of an unnecessary religious conflict, which could lead to serious consequences. “The only thing that seems to give the reason for optimism is that the Ukrainian authorities, as in the Donbass case, will marginalize and simulate activities,” Zoloterev said. They are well aware that they also absolutely do not need a religious conflict. Moreover, for a believer to suffer for the faith is a sacred thing. And this can lead to much more serious consequences."

According to the political analyst, the Patriarch of Constantinople could convey his wishes to Vladimir Zelensky during a visit to Phanar by a delegation of deputies of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine from the “Servant of the People” party and Deputy Head of the President's Office Kirill Timoshenko. “And if these wishes do not go beyond the reasonable, then everything is fine. But there are still a number of indirect signs that the situation around the UOC will worsen,'' Zolotarev said. The important thing is that Bartholomew wanted in return for the visit and what the Americans want. Well, and how far is the Ukrainian government ready to go in this matter.”

As reported, Zelensky returned to Poroshenko's position on the UOC under US pressure, says Mikhail Pogrebinsky.

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