Head of the UGCC Criticizes Churches Competing for Privileges During Wartime

The head of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church has voiced criticism of religious institutions that, according to him, are using the context of war to gain status and material benefits. His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk made the remarks on July 29, 2025, during a sermon marking the 160th anniversary of the birth of Andrey Sheptytsky. A video of his address was published on the YouTube channel “Zhyve Telebachennya.”

According to the UGCC leader, the use of religious institutions as a means of social advancement is a recurring historical phenomenon:
“It has always been the case, in all times and among all nations, that certain religious institutions were used as a social elevator to secure a better piece of bread, a better place in society,” he noted.

Sviatoslav Shevchuk expressed concern that even during wartime, some religious organizations focus not on spiritual service, but on disputes over property and attempts to gain recognition or support from the state.

“If churches or Christians are fighting over property in Ukraine during wartime, if churches compete before secular authorities for privileges and honors, trying to become the state church, then Christ today tells Christians in Ukraine: ‘Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees,’” he said.

It is worth noting that Sviatoslav Shevchuk also recently spoke out against a government decision to limit the independence of Ukraine’s anti-corruption institutions. He emphasized that fighting corruption is a moral obligation — one that stems from the sacrifice of the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred and remains one of the foundational principles upon which post-Maidan Ukraine was built.