The DESS is counting on an internal split in the UOC, - publicist

The State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience has published requirements for the Kyiv Metropolis of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which the UOC must fulfill in order to be exempt from anti-church law No. 3894. However, some of the points, if implemented, could cause internal divisions within the Church, which is most likely what the State Service is counting on. This was written on his Facebook account by publicist and deacon of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Andriy Glushchenko.

“If the central leadership of the UOC begins to comply with the requirements to ‘eliminate signs’, publicly and officially severing any canonical ties/relations with the ROC, this may cause sharp protests among a certain number of ordinary priests and simple believers, especially in eastern and southern Ukraine (and in other regions, of course). In addition, by openly severing canonical relations with the Russian Orthodox Church, the entire clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church risks losing canonical recognition in most local churches (those that do not recognize the Orthodox Church of Ukraine). If, on the contrary, the Kiev Metropolis does not take any steps here, it will cause serious dissatisfaction among the rest of the clergy and believers, and quite significantly among those who want the UOC to clear itself of all accusations before Ukrainian society and truly publicly sever all relations with the ROC. For them, the council in Feofaniya in 2022 was only a half-measure, and they expect further steps from the top leadership, accusing the metropolis of indecision,” – Glushchenko writes.

The publicist claims that the DESS is putting the Kyiv Metropolis in a deliberately losing position, since any action by the Church will in fact only worsen its already difficult situation. Thus, according to Glushchenko, the State Service for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience wants to achieve an internal split in the UOC.

“If the leadership of the UOC does not fully comply with the list of requirements of the DESS within one month, the authorities may demand that all diocesan administrations of the UOC sever relations with the Kyiv Metropolis. They will have to leave its jurisdiction so as not to be included in the list of organizations ”affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church.” In other words, the DESS may be planning to cause an internal split in the UOC on two levels:
1) among the rank and file clergy and believers throughout the country (their reaction to the UOC leadership’s fulfillment or non-fulfillment of the DESS’s demands);
2) at the regional level – among bishops and dioceses (dividing them into two parties),” – the author added.

Recall that on the eve of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) issued a prescription to eliminate violations of the legislation of the Kyiv Metropolis of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The decision was made based on the results of an investigation into the “probable links” of this religious organization with “a foreign structure whose activities are prohibited on the territory of Ukraine.”