"I don't celebrate Easter, I'm out of politics"

Survey participants. Photo: TikTok channel ukrainianvibe

One of the Ukrainian TikTok channels published a short compilation of answers to the question "When will you celebrate Easter?"

Some say, "as it should be, December 25th," others – on April 5th, still others – that "finally we will celebrate with Europe and America on April 12th," and a fourth group – on April 12th, because it's "according to the new calendar."

A significant portion doesn't celebrate at all, since they're not interested in religion. But the most memorable answer was: "I don't celebrate, I'm out of politics." It seems to be said jokingly, but there's deep and bitter truth in these words.

Today the church topic has been turned into one of the elements of political battles, where supporters of the "Ukrainian" church victoriously defeat the "FSB agents." In this war, not only are churches seized. In it, feasts are moved from the "bad" calendar to the "good" one, "Moscow" saints are cancelled, and so forth. But what comes next, after the "victory"? Next comes emptiness. Because besides the anthem and "spiritual deoccupation," the OCU has nothing to offer people. And the UOC today is not allowed into society with missionary preaching.

Unchurched people today are completely disoriented. And the phrase "I don't celebrate Easter, I'm out of politics" sounds like a clear assessment of current church leaders.

Read also

Zelensky's revoked order: What kind of heroes should Ukrainians have?

In recent years, the Ukrainian authorities have sought to present members of the OUN-UPA as heroes for all Ukrainians.

Religious processions banned – gay parades allowed

The authorities “respect rights, freedom, and human dignity” for many: Jews, pop and rock music fans, and now homosexuals. But Orthodox Christians are not among them.

Lavra's Dormition Cathedral and the money

While the construction of the entire cathedral cost approximately $12.5–13 million, more than $11.1 million is now being sought for its restoration. And that is only the “starting” figure.

Strike on the Lavra: what will the consequences be?

No one is saying that a strike on the Lavra, the portion of the Mother of God, is a level of absurdity beyond all limits – that after destroying hundreds of Orthodox churches, the war has now reached the very heart of our Orthodoxy.

Zelensky and the strike on the Lavra: grief for export?

If Russia’s strike on the Dormition Cathedral is, in Zelensky’s words, “barbarism,” then what should we call the Ukrainian authorities’ destruction of UOC churches? Is that not barbarism? Or is that somehow “different”?

How Epifaniy became a successor of the "occupier"

From the OCU's perspective, Bishop Ioann was the living embodiment of the very “spiritual occupation” of Ukraine and the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra that they now claim to be heroically fighting against.