OCU hierarch: Listening to Rammstein after the shelling is just the thing

The head of the Odessa diocese of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Afanasy Yavorsky, spoke about his musical preferences. Yavorsky noted that he likes not only classical music, but also heavy rock, for example, the rock band Rammstein. He spoke about this in an interview with the regional publication Intent.

“I love classical music because I grew up with it. I graduated from music school with a degree in violin, and from music college with a degree in choral conducting. For me, classical music is everything. But I wasn’t always a clergyman; I was once young. That’s why heavy rock is not foreign to me, as they say, so I like to listen to Rammstein and, at the same time, our Ukrainian pop music. Probably, after the shelling, listening to rock is just the thing. Although I didn’t like it before,” – Yavorsky said.

He also added that his favorite genre of fiction is fantasy. Yavorsky also reads theological literature to prepare for his sermons.

“I like fantasy fiction. Of course, I have to read theological literature, because without it, it is impossible to prepare sermons and preach to people effectively. But I believe that fiction also develops thinking and speech. Especially the ability to speak. Because a sermon is, by and large, a monologue. That’s why I read everything,” – added the head of the Odessa Diocese of the OCU.

We previously reported that on July 5, 2025, the Volyn Regional Territorial Center for the Recruitment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (TRC) held a “consecration” of a church in honor of Prince Vladimir, Equal to the Apostles. The religious ceremony was performed by the odious head of the Volyn Diocese of the OCU, Mykhailo Zinkevych. Together with Zinkevich, employees of the TCC and chaplains of the OCU “prayed” in the church.