Valery Kaurov, head of the Union of Orthodox Citizens of the Ukraine
The head of the Union of Orthodox Citizens of the Ukraine (SPGU), Valery Kaurov, repeatedly confronted NATO servicemen on the Black Sea coast at the head of Orthodox pickets. Several days after the beginning of the protests against Sea Breeze 2008, he was in hospital in Odessa. He was taken without warning from his hospital room to the offices of the Ukrainian MVD, where he was subjected to a lengthy interrogation. However, our Interfax-Religion correspondent, Artur Priimak found it possible to meet with Valery Vladimirovich.
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Artur Priimak
Could you tell me the spectrum of opinion in the Ukraine before the opening of the Sea Breeze 2008 exercises? What did the people of the region affected think of the upcoming manoeuvres?
Valery Kaurov
Most people in the Ukraine expected that strong protest actions would be mounted against NATO, just as they were in 2006 in Feodosiya, so, we gathered as many people as possible to picket the Sea Breeze exercises. Unfortunately, all too many of our efforts, both then and now, were somewhat uncoordinated, but, it was obvious that the protest was a success. The NATO personnel involved were uneasy, they did not wish to appear in public in uniform, the NATO staff did their best to conceal their plans regarding the manoeuvres, and the Ukrainian government feared us so much that they tried to muzzle the leadership of the anti-NATO protest movement. Our main success was in the promotional and outreach role of our actions. It is now abundantly clear that the Ukrainian people are opposed to joining NATO. It is important that we caused the cancellation of the formal naval review of the NATO forces and the military parade scheduled to be held in the streets of Odessa.
Artur Priimak
Was there anyone in the Orthodox community of the Ukraine who was opposed to the United Fatherland movement?
Valery Kaurov
Our actions were purely political. We did not carry religious items, in accordance with a resolution of the SPGU and in keeping with a promise that we gave to the First Hierarch of the UAOC (MP). Therefore, the church hierarchy refused to comment on our activity and refused to criticise it. We strictly followed the new regulations passed by the SPGU Congress in June in Kiev, we did not speak for the church or its hierarchy, and so, we were not subject to criticism as we were in December 2007.
When baba speaks, you’d best listen! Or, you’ll get the cane! OUCH!
As far as the second part of the question is concerned, I must say that with regret that many Orthodox organisations were preoccupied with the problem of the ideas spread by Bishop Diomid in the course of his destructive activity in the church. Also, there were groups that directly confronted the MP hierarchy, and this undoubtedly weakened the Orthodox anti-NATO front and it lessened the number of believers who came forward in our protest actions. Furthermore, there was worry caused by the anticipation of untoward events being fomented by Yushchenko and Patriarch Bartholomew concerning the creation of a so-called “United Local Church”. Therefore, believers found themselves torn between two conflicts, and most chose to fight for the unity of the Russian Orthodox Church, for that was more important.
Artur Priimak
What happened after the leadership of the anti-NATO protest action received an official warning from the Ukrainian court?
Valery Kaurov
The leadership resolved to act in such a way as to not violate the decision of the local administrative law court. We conducted two seaborne protests, and picketed the Sea Breeze 2008 manoeuvres near the City Hall, the Officer’s Club, and in the Armenian Street. The court forbade us to protest at the naval port, so, we only conducted a very short picket there to show the foreign journalists and NATO servicemen our posters and shout a few slogans. We set up a tent camp and a fixed protest site near the military training ground in Chabanka directly on the Black Sea shore. In all likelihood, our protest actions were one of the reasons that the police detained me for interrogation on 22 July 2008, four days after the end of the Sea Breeze 2008 manoeuvres, whilst I was in a hospital room of the intensive therapy wing of the Odessa cardiological clinic.
Artur Priimak
What impressions did Ukrainian Orthodox activists take away from their recent visit to Moscow, and, in particular what was their reaction to the Archpastoral Council of the MP?
Valery Kaurov
We had two main impressions. Firstly, it was necessary for us to defend the Archpastoral Council from provocations and confrontations offered by the followers of Diomid, for a majority of them came from the Ukraine. It reached the point where radical supporters of Diomid and Ippolit Khilko assaulted the loyal Orthodox picketers, which led to much coverage in the Russian media. On the other hand, we were pleasantly surprised by the actions of the kids from the Orthodox section of the youth group Nashi (Ours), and we stood together with them for two days on the picket line [in support of the Archpastoral Council]. This speaks highly of the success of the Orthodox missionary effort in Russia.
Did our visit to Moscow help us? It goes without saying that it did. Any visit to its sparkling towers are always a holiday for believers! We strengthened our ties with the Rus party as we went on a joint pilgrimage to the Nikolo-Perevinsky Monastery. Our political allies were dismayed at the situation surrounding Bishop Diomid, and, as a result, they began to understand some of the problems facing contemporary Orthodoxy. This led to them having a deeper relationship with us. It is possible that we conceived a new social and political formulation in Moscow, an ideology for the protection of Orthodoxy and a missionary counterattack to retake all the key positions [in society].
Artur Priimak
How are things in the Diocese of Odessa? There appears to be many rumours flying about concerning the imminent retirement of Metropolitan Agafangel…
Valery Kaurov
Orthodox protestors in Lvov opposing Orangies. What guts!
The fact is that Metropolitan Agafangel is a steadfast supporter of the unity of the Russian Orthodox Church, a determined opponent of the entry of the Ukraine into NATO, and a zealous defender of the Russian language. Not only do we in the Diocese of Odessa support him completely, he also has wide support far beyond its limits. He is well aware of the plans of some in the Ukrainian government to attack the UAOC (MP). Repeatedly, with great courage, Metropolitan Agafangel publicly voiced his opinion on these questions and unambiguously told the government that not only he would never obey a forced union with the autocephalists, other dioceses and parishes would follow him. In such a manner, he has foiled the plots of the Orange faction. They tried to take vengeance on him by spreading rumours of his imminent retirement. However, the Lord is found in Truth, not in force, and he triumphed [over the Orangies]. Vladyki Agafangel prayed in the cathedral at the time of the announcement of Yushchenko’s plans to create a so-called “United Local Church” during the celebration of the anniversary of the Baptism of Russia, and Yushchenko’s efforts came to naught. There is much grace in our metropolitan here in Odessa.
Artur Priimak
In your view, why do some “nationalistic” factions in the Ukraine, including religious organisations, support the entrance of the Ukraine into NATO?
Valery Kaurov
You are speaking of those who support the Orange faction and everything connected with it. They hate Russia, they hate Russian Orthodoxy, and they hope that NATO shall help them with their fight. The present “nationalist” forces in the Ukraine are made up of those who attacked Moscow [together with the Poles] at time of the Great Smuta (1610s, it refers to those Little Russians who supported the False Dmitri and the Polish occupation of Moscow: editor’s note) and they consider themselves the heirs of Pugachov and all those who rebelled against the Russian state.
Those of us who live in the Ukraine find it strange that this was not clear to those living in Russia until recently. Specifically, the parishes of the MP [in the Ukraine] maintain the spiritual and cultural heritage of our triune Russian people (that is, Russians, Ukrainians, and Byelorussians: editor’s note), we have share a common history, we pray to the same holy righteous men of God who shone forth in our common homeland, we share common Orthodox sacred objects, and we share common monasteries. We are going to preserve this unity, and we shall never allow anyone to break up this spiritual, cultural, and historical space.
Defence of the Holy Trinity St Sergius Lavra Against the Poles in 1610 (Sergei Milorodovich, no date)
All so-called “Ukrainian nationalists” had best understand this, for they are but Western puppets hell-bent on transforming the Ukraine into a Russophobic and anti-Russian state. They wish it to become just another bridgehead for NATO [against Russia]. These aspirations date back to the time Uniate Catholic Galicia was under the domination of Austria-Hungary and Poland, both historical enemies of Russia. Even at that date, plans were laid for the weakening and destruction of Russia, and the so-called “Ukrainian nationalists” were given an important role. The main obstacle to these plans was Holy Orthodoxy as embodied by the largest Local Church, the MP. The UAOC (MP) numbers more than 11,000 parishes and monasteries. It is obvious that the sundering of the UAOC (MP) from the MP and the subsequent Catholic takeover of the Ukraine is the dream of the “nationalists” of all colours. To help achieve this goal, they wish to draw the Ukraine into the aggressive NATO bloc. There is no difference in the goals of the Western “democracies”, the Galician lobby, the Orange faction, and the Ukrainian schismatics.
However, we shall resist them and we are assured of victory! Let the triumphal march of Patriarch Aleksei in Kiev inspire us, and let us remember the words of St Lavrenty of Chernigov, as repeated by Metropolitan Kirill in front of a crowd of 100,000 on the Kreshchatka, “Russia, the Ukraine, and Byelorussia, this is Holy Russia!” (in Russian, “Россия, Украина и Беларусь – это и есть Святая Русь!” (Rossiya, Ukraina, i Belarus – eta i yest Svyataya Rus!), it loses its poetry in translation: editor’s note)
30 July 2008
Interfax-Religion
http://www.interfax-religion.ru/?act=interview&div=190 (in Russian)
Editor’s Note:
For a Great, United, and Free Russia! (Dmitri Shmarin, 2004)
I have been accused of simplistic propaganda and being out of the mainstream by some “Ukrainian” and Ukrainophile commenters. Of course, one cannot talk to the incorrigible. My conclusions are based on knowledge of the sources in Russian, German, and English. In fact, there is something that these people do NOT wish you to know.
That is, no independent and explicitly-identified Ukrainian state existed prior to 1991, and the Baltic states of Estonia and Latvia existed only between 1920 and 1940, and from 1991 onwards. These are peoples with no experience in governing themselves, and it shows. They have always been part of some larger entity. I believe that this puts these commenters to bed. I would advise these sorts not to comment here, for I shall delete such, but, do what I do. Run your own website; put your case out to the world. Put it forth into the marketplace of ideas. It is not easy, let me assure you. However, instead of attacking, give the world your case! Let it be heard!
Let the devil take the hindmost, I say, and I can rest easy, for I know that I am willing to pull on my wellies and do the dirty work necessary to get the word out. Do likewise, or, go home. That is the way of it.
