Zelensky awards Ukraine’s chief rabbi with the Order of Merit
Rabbi Moshe Reuven Asman. Photo: risu.ua
On June 27, 2025, President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree awarding the Order of Merit, 2nd Class, to Moshe Reuven Asman, Chief Rabbi of Kyiv and Ukraine.
According to decree No. 424/2025, the high state award was given for “significant contributions to strengthening Ukrainian statehood, courage and dedication shown in defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine,” as well as for “a substantial personal contribution to the development of various spheres of public life.”
Moshe Asman, who heads the All-Ukrainian Congress of Jewish Religious Communities, is one of the few religious figures to receive such high recognition for “defending the national interests of the state” and “conscientiously fulfilling his professional duty.”
It is worth recalling that on June 16, 2025, Chief Rabbi Moshe Asman, in an interview with Glavcom, invited President Volodymyr Zelensky to pray at the central Kyiv synagogue. The rabbi said that a personalized seat in the front row had been prepared for the president.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that Zelensky had awarded a cleric of the OCU who oversaw the seizure of a cathedral in Chernivtsi.
Read also
MP urges to ease pressure on UOC for sake of peace
Oleksii Honcharenko proposed compromises on language, historical memory, and Church issues as part of efforts to achieve peace, saying those who wish to attend the “Russian Church” should be allowed to do so.
Court takes 17th-century church in Staryi Pochaiv from UOC community
A commercial court overturned a 2018 registrar’s decision and stripped the UOC’s Ternopil Eparchy of ownership of the 17th-century church.
Vinnytsia Eparchy honors Bar Icon of the Mother of God
Metropolitan Varsonofiy celebrated the Liturgy at the Bar Convent on the feast day of the wonderworking icon of the Mother of God.
Rada speaker discusses legalization of same-sex marriage in Rivne region
Ruslan Stefanchuk suggested that sponsors of separate bills to legalize same-sex marriage personally make their case to Ukrainians.
Jerusalem Patriarch rejects proposal to celebrate Christmas on December 25
The Jerusalem Patriarch rejected a proposal for a common Christmas celebration and reaffirmed the Church’s adherence to the Julian calendar.
SBU told Phanar many UOC bishops would join OCU in 2018, report says
According to a Phanar representative’s account, Ukrainian security services told the Constantinople delegation that many UOC representatives were prepared to attend the OCU’s “Unification Council.” In the end, only two did.