On the Discord Surrounding the Ban on Kokhanovska
By angrily denouncing one another, we move away from the most important thing Christ teaches us — love.
A heated discussion has erupted online surrounding the decree of Odessa Metropolitan Agafangel banning human rights activist Victoria Kokhanovska from receiving Holy Communion. She had previously recorded a sharp video about the activities of the Odessa hierarch and representatives of the diocese who, in her words, are pushing the UOC toward illegal autocephaly. The video was recorded in a rude manner; it is emotional and contradictory. But even more emotional was the reaction of the diocesan clergy, followed by priests and hierarchs sympathetic to her.
Archpriest Maximian Pogorelovskiy called Victoria a "wolf in sheep's clothing" and claimed that because of her actions, "our faithful were driven out into the street and were not allowed to defend their shrine from within" at the Lavra. Archbishop Iona refers to the human rights activist as a "hysteric" and a "boor," Metropolitan Varsonofiy calls her "Moscow's agent" and "an inadequate person," while Archbishop Sylvester asserts that Kokhanovska "is actively discrediting our Church."
The clergy, hierarchs, and faithful of the UOC are fiercely debating whether the Odessa metropolitan had the right to bar Victoria from Communion — or whether only His Beatitude Onufriy could have done so. Each side quotes canons extensively in an attempt to defend its point of view.
But what do we have in the end?
The same Archbishop Sylvester emphasizes that sanctions against Kokhanovska were necessary because she "is trying to sow enmity and confrontation." Father Maximian says the same: that she "is introducing confusion and discord among parishioners at a time when we must unite in order to stand firm in this difficult hour."
And here a question arises: is the current dispute not itself "enmity and confrontation"? Why, when Kokhanovska spent years defending dozens of UOC parishes in the courts, did no one say she was "discrediting our Church"? Why, in 2023, did none of her current critics come to the Lavra as she did, stand watch there 24/7, and "earn" several criminal cases along the way? And can we seriously accept Father Maximian's claim that the faithful were driven from the shrine solely because of Kokhanovska's actions?
Is Victoria right today in rudely "sending" Metropolitan Agafangel into retirement? Certainly not. But are those who are insulting her today right — having done not even a tenth of what she did to defend the Church? Also no — because the current dispute is itself that very "confusion," "enmity and confrontation." All of this serves to split our Church. And, perhaps even more importantly, it leads to the perdition of our souls. For by angrily denouncing one another, we move away from the most important thing Christ teaches us — love.
The contemporary philosopher Grigory Pomerants once said:
"The devil begins with the foam on the lips of an angel who has entered into battle for a holy and righteous cause."
What is now unfolding around Victoria Kokhanovska can be seen as an illustration of this thought. Each side argues its case to the point of foaming at the mouth — yet behind it all, for some reason, only a dark, crooked smirk shows through.
