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The Ukrainian Orthodox Church/Moscow Patriarchate (UOC/MP) believed that the visit of the Patriarch Aleksei Ridiger of Moscow and all the Russias to the Ukraine late last month promoted church unity. A proof of this was the repentance of some schismatics and their return to canonical Orthodoxy. On 12 August, the whole Ss Joachim and Anna community of the self-proclaimed “Patriarchate of Kiev” returned to Orthodox unity with the MP. Representatives of the MP and the UOC/MP believe that this is just the beginning. The festivities celebrating the 1,020th anniversary of the Baptism of Russia showed that the policy of the Ukrainian government aimed at driving a wedge between the UOC/MP and the MP and creating an “autocephalous Ukrainian Orthodox Church” was futile. As is well-known, recently, the Ukrainian political establishment was making all sorts of efforts to disassociate the Ukraine from Russia not only politically and economically, but, also in the religious sphere. The Ukrainian church was on the verge of a schism. Believers are divided into three groups, the self-proclaimed “Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church” and “Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Patriarchate of Kiev)”, both of which are uncanonical, and the UOC/MP, which is the only one of the three to be canonical and recognised by the other Local Orthodox Churches. Fr Kirill, a spokesman for the UOC/MP, said that the Ukrainian government, led by President Viktor Yushchenko, pinned great hopes on the creation of an independent Ukrainian Church with the help of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
Fr Kirill said, “The Ukrainian government had the intention of using the jubilee festivities to have the uncanonical bodies regularised [by the EP]. We were concerned that church problems and the church schism in the Ukraine were discussed bilaterally by some political and church groups, that is, they conducted separatist talks. There were bilateral contacts between the EP and the Ukrainian government, the EP and representatives of schismatic groups, and the representatives of schismatic groups and Ukrainian government officials. Yet, the plans of Ukrainian government officials were fruitless. Patriarch Bartholomew refused to recognise the Ukrainian schismatics, saying that only a united church could be strong and set an exemplar for all other Christians. The arrival of Patriarch Aleksei in the Ukraine shattered the belief that the schismatic groups were viable bodies, for hordes of believers came to greet ‘their Patriarch Aleksei’. This return of a schismatic group to the Orthodox Church was just a natural thing. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church will spare no effort in its efforts to remain within Russian Orthodoxy, so it can overcome the church schism in the Ukraine as soon as possible”.
13 August 2008
Voice of Russia World Service
http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=31006&cid=59&p=13.08.2008
Editor’s Note:
It is highly significant that this event is taking place at this particular time. The schismatic groups are favoured by Yushchenko, indeed, he is a member of one of these bodies (therefore, he is not Orthodox, in the fullest sense of the word). If a group leaves the UOC (KP) for the canonical church, this means that it is consciously leaving a body with government backing and blessing, and going to a body that is opposed and oppressed by the Orangies.
Of course, this is related to the events unfolding in Ossetia. Most of the population in the Ukraine are Russophones (only 23 percent of the “Ukrainian” population speaks the dialect known as “Ukrainian” as their main language), and Yushchenko’s loud support for the Saakashvili junta is probably resonating badly in the Ukraine, especially in the eastern portion and in the south (especially the Crimea). Yushchenko has not condemned the genocide of the Ossetians and looks as though he is going to support NATO. This shall be his political death sentence. 70 percent of the Ukrainian population opposes NATO in any form, and if American forces were to cross Ukrainian territory, it would cause riots and civil disturbances.
This is actually a political action. It is saying that this group is breaking allegiance with the extreme Galician Uniate nationalism of the Orangies. Do not minimise such an action. These people are knowingly embracing a body not in favour with the Orange junta in Kiev. What do they know? Or, rather, what do they see in the current events? There is no doubt that not only do most people in this sickly successor state see the imminent end of the Orange junta, they are seeing a return of the Russian state as not only possible, but probable. The Russian tanks would be welcomed everywhere, perhaps even Galicia! Just because it is the stronghold of Uniate fanaticism does not mean that the majority of the population supports it! For instance, the present commander of the Russian navy, Admiral Vysotsky, is from Lvov oblast, and he is a patriotic Russian (as are many, if not most, of his compatriots in Lvov!).
This is an omen of the future, and it is good. Russia is on the march, and it is gathering her scattered children. The most battered bezprizornik is the Ukraine, and it seems that there is much support there for a “realignment” of the border. May it happen soon, God willing.
BMD
Voices from Russia 
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