Cleric of Constantinople: The Church in Ukraine is subjected to violence
Priest Andrey Kordochkin. Photo: FROK – Studio YouTube screenshot
Fr. Andrey Kordochkin, currently a cleric of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople – who was suspended by the Russian Orthodox Church in 2023 for his anti-war stance – commented on the religious situation in Ukraine in an interview with FROK – Studio.
According to him, the issue of autocephaly should have been handled “differently,” since the result of granting the Tomos to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) was that “instead of uniting Orthodox believers in Ukraine, it practically created even greater division.” Referring to the use of force by Ukrainian authorities against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), Kordochkin emphasized that church schisms “cannot and must not be overcome by the efforts of the state. They must be overcome by the will of the people – by the will of the faithful.”
“The current situation in Ukraine is, of course, not one of religious freedom, nor of equality in the rights of believers, of Orthodox Christians of different jurisdictions. It is, rather, a case of significant state interference in Church affairs,” said Fr. Andrey. “I believe that in this case, responsibility lies primarily with Ukrainian state authorities, rather than with any church structures.”
“As a priest, as a Christian, I cannot in any way approve of violent actions against churches or monasteries,” he stated. Kordochkin acknowledged that communities should have the right to transfer to another jurisdiction, but emphasized that such decisions must be made by the faithful themselves.
He called the “forcible seizure of property – including from monastics for whom a monastery is truly their home – unacceptable.”
Speaking about the use of coercion in Ukraine, the priest stressed: “We are now entering an era in which the issue is not merely about canonical legitimacy, but also about moral legitimacy.”
Earlier, the UOJ reported that Viktor Yelensky assured the SBU of the high level of religious freedom in Ukraine.
Read also
OCU cleric responds to Hryshchuk's provocations at funerals for AFU soldiers
Sofroniy Chuprina refuted claims about the necessity of opening the Royal Doors during funeral services.
Kosmach residents accuse OCU monks of supporting "Russian world" ideas
Parishioners of the OCU stated that the monastery residents near the village of Kosmach use pro-Russian rhetoric, preventing them from switching to the "new calendar".
Medieval church in England safeguarded with National Lottery funds
The preservation of a 13th-century church in Leicestershire was made possible thanks to money from British National Lottery draws.
Lavra Reserve marks centenary of Bolshevik seizure of the monastery
Reconstructions of museum exhibits from the “museum town,” which the Bolsheviks proclaimed within the monastery walls, were staged by the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Reserve.
Sweden stops state support for Islamic organizations in country
The Swedish government has officially stopped all taxpayer-funded grants to the aid organization Islamic Relief Sweden (IRS) after an investigation revealed risks of connections to extremism.
Head of Montenegro’s schismatics meet with Phanar representative in Rome
A Finnish archbishop under the Phanar’s jurisdiction held a meeting with a representative of an uncanonical church structure from Montenegro.