Religious scholar: UOC should send a document to Moscow stating that it is not part of the Russian Church

Ukrainian religious scholar Oleksandr Brodetsky spoke about how the Ukrainian Orthodox Church should prove to the state that it is not part of the Russian Orthodox Church. According to the religious scholar, the Primate of the UOC should send an official document to the Moscow Patriarchate stating that the Church is withdrawing from the Russian Orthodox Church. He said this in an interview with Suspilne.

“It (the UOC – ed.) should send to Moscow a document signed by its primate stating that it is not part of the Russian Church. Also, every bishop who was a member of any body, synod, or interconciliar assembly until 2022 must write a statement that he is withdrawing from these structures. Not just declare, but write a statement. Next, the UOC should unequivocally, again, through the mouth of its primate, condemn those bishops who have collaborated with Russia in the occupied territories. Further, what else does Ukraine ask for is an official assessment, signed by the primate, of the teachings of Patriarch Kirill, who blesses the war, calls it sacred, and sends his chaplains to this war, often with weapons. Although Orthodox priests are strictly forbidden to take up arms,” – said the religious scholar.

The religious scholar emphasized that statements for the internal audience or even letters to government agencies stating that the Primate and bishops of the UOC are not part of the Russian Orthodox Church are not enough for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. In Brodetsky’s opinion, a “resignation letter” is needed to fully confirm this fact.

“They sometimes make statements, in particular, there was a letter from Onufriy to the State Service for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience, where he wrote that the head of the UOC ceased to be a member of the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church. But there is a simple example: I want to quit my job. If I say that I no longer work at the university, is that enough? No, it is not. What do I have to do? Write a letter of resignation. Thus, when Onufriy simply says that he is no longer a member of the Russian Orthodox Church, and does not write an application to the Russian Orthodox Church, it seems that this is manipulation,” – Brodetsky added.

Earlier, the head of the international human rights company “Amsterdam & Partners LLP” Robert Amsterdam, who represents the legal interests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, during his speech at the International Religious Freedom Summit (IRFSummit2025), held in Washington, told the participants of the event about the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The human rights activist once again drew attention to the fact that the previous government of the United States was involved in the repression of the UOC and its subsequent ban.