In Ukraine, Trump’s 'spiritual advisor' reassured of religious freedom

Pastor Burns at a meeting with Ukrainian religious leaders. Photo: Asman’s Facebook

On March 30, 2025, evangelical pastor Mark Burns visited Ukraine at the invitation of Chief Rabbi Moshe Azman. Azman introduced Burns as the "personal spiritual advisor" to U.S. President Donald Trump.

At the rabbi’s initiative, a “multi-faith religious forum” was organized for Burns, bringing together representatives of various religious denominations and communities active in Ukraine. In addition to Jewish leaders, participants included Michael Onyshchenko, Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate; Oleksandr Drabinko, a "metropolitan" of the OCU; Ihor Shaban representing the UGCC; and pastors from Protestant denominations in Ukraine. Oleg Havrysh, a representative of the Presidential Office, was also present.

On his Facebook page, Pastor Burns wrote that he met “with Ukraine’s top religious leaders.”

“Their testimony of Russia's systematic religious persecution is heartbreaking: over 20,000 Ukrainian children kidnapped and forcibly deported, 700+ houses of worship, mosques, synagogues, temples, & churches destroyed, and clergy brutally murdered. Yet despite these horrors, Ukraine stands strong as a beacon of religious freedom, welcoming ALL faiths..”

In the comments under his post, someone asked Burns whether he met with representatives of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church under Metropolitan Onuphry. The pastor replied with a photo showing the backs of Drabynko and Anishchenko and wrote: “Yes, Bishop Andriy is seen in this photo. He explained that it is the Russian Orthodox Church and Russians in the occupied territories who are doing this.” Burns did not clarify who “Bishop Andriy” is or what connection the UOC has to the actions of the ROC in the occupied territories.

The backs of Drabynko and Anishchenko. Photo: Burns’ Facebook

Group photos from the meeting show that no UOC representatives were present.

Pastor Burns was also taken on a tour of Bucha and Irpin.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that according to Sviatoslav Shevchuk, the UGCC does not understand the actions of the Trump administration.

Read also