Bishop Jonah comments on the installation of a Perun idol near the foundations of the Church of the Tithes

Bishop Jonah (Cherepanov) of Obukhiv, a vicar of the Kyiv Metropolis of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, has drawn public attention to the installation of a pagan idol of Perun near the foundations of the destroyed Church of the Tithes in the center of Kyiv. In a comment published on Facebook, the hierarch expressed concern that pagan rituals are now being held at the site of what was once the first stone church of Kyivan Rus.

According to the bishop, the installation of the religious symbol — the idol of Perun — took place without proper public discussion. He raised a number of questions to the responsible authorities: was the installation of this structure approved by the Historical Museum, are there any official permits, and on what legal basis was the idol placed at the site? “How is it better than an Orthodox church, if it is left untouched?” the bishop asks.

“I hope no one will take offense at these simple questions,” he added.

As a reminder, during the night of May 16–17, Kyiv authorities demolished the Volodymyr-Olha (Tithes) Church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church without due procedure or prior official notice.