The media suggested a change in the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church

Ukrainian journalist and OCU lobbyist Kateryna Shchetkina has published her thoughts on the future of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the context of the upcoming peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. Shchetkina claims that the church case will definitely be one of the topics of discussion for achieving peace. At the same time, the journalist asserts that in the context of the events taking place with the UOC, it is quite possible that there will be a change in the Primate of the Church, who will become a compromise figure for both sides. Shchetkina hints that such a figure could be the administrator of the UOC, Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanich). She wrote about this in her article on the Dzerkalo Tyzhnia website.

“Many observers are wondering about other figures in the UOC-MP. Such as, for example, Metropolitan Anthony Pakanich, who holds the ”modest» position of administrator of the Kyiv Metropolis. Let me remind you that he was the person Viktor Yanukovych wanted to appoint as head of the UOC-MP. He was also Metropolitan Onufriy’s main rival in the 2014 election for primate of the UOC-MP—many bishops voted for Onufriy at that time only to prevent Metropolitan Anthony from winning. Finally, Metropolitan Anthony has very close business ties with the “main sponsor” of the UOC-MP, Vadym Novinsky. And all that the Ukrainian authorities have been able to do so far with regard to the formally “second person” in the Kyiv Metropolis is to impose “sanctions” against him. Something like a yellow card. Which does not prevent a person who has prudently entrenched himself on the bench from pensively watching the turbulent waters and patiently waiting for the political corpse of the Metropolitan of Kyiv to float by,» — Shchetkina writes.

The journalist suggests that a change of leadership in the “post-war” UOC is inevitable. At the same time, she notes that since the issue of “protecting Orthodoxy” will be one of the key issues in the peace talks, Russia will try to appoint a compromise figure to the position of Primate — a person who has not previously discredited himself and has not been involved in scandals of varying degrees.

«For the ‘new life’ of the UOC-MP, a change in leadership is inevitable. It will have to be headed by a person who has not been so heavily criticized in Ukraine, whose loyalty is not in doubt in Moscow, and who will satisfy the “Orthodox sponsors” who will bear the main costs of restoring the structure of the UOC-MP in the territories that will remain under Ukraine’s control after the war. No expense will be spared, and the “waiting” members of the UOC-MP know this and are waiting for it — their loyalty will be rewarded. “Orthodox sponsors” will help restore and rebuild everything (even what has not been damaged). The charitable foundations of the Russian Orthodox Church, which are now collecting donations for the “SVO,” will, after the war — you’ll see! — begin to collect “for the restoration of the canonical church in brotherly Ukraine.” Because the battle for Ukraine will not end with the last shot in this war. And everything that can be preserved will be used by the UOC-MP in future “peaceful” battles,» — she added.

We will remind you that recently the publication Novaya Gazeta Europe published an article in which the author outlined his assumptions about how events will develop in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church after the deprivation of Ukrainian citizenship of the Primate of the UOC, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry. According to the author of the article, due to the current situation, Metropolitan Onufry will not be able to fully perform his duties and will therefore be sent into retirement. At the same time, the Metropolitan of Odessa and Izmail, Agafangel, will take the place of the head of the UOC for a while, after which a Primate more loyal to the government will be elected, who, according to the author, will be the Metropolitan of Lviv, Filaret.