Its golden lamps crowned the capital of Ukraine for almost ten centuries. Lavra of Kiev CavesMont-Saint-Michel of Orthodoxy“, as presented by the historian of religions Jean-Francois Colosimo, is fiercely contested. Founded in the 11th century, this architectural complex, which spreads over twenty hectares on the banks of the Dnieper, is home to one of the largest monastic communities in Ukraine, about 200 monks. But they pass under the Moscow Patriarchate, headed by Patriarch Kirill, a faithful zealot “special military operation“.
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Three communities of the Byzantine Rite coexist in Ukraine: the Greek Catholics, which have been linked to Rome since the 16th century, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (EOU), which is autonomous, i.e. independent as of 2019, and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Under the Moscow Patriarchate (EOU-PM). The latter, assigned to the Kyiv Lavra, is suspected by Ukrainian authorities of collusion with the Kremlin. In May, under pressure, the synod declared the independence of the EOU-PM from the Moscow Patriarchate.
“But there are no tools to measure these claims“, – emphasizes the historian, director of “Cerf” publications. In early December, Vladimir Zelensky announced a bill that should limit the activities of religious organizations.branchesRussia, therefore, from the EOU-PM and prohibits the celebration of Christmas mass in the cathedral by the clergy of the Moscow Patriarchate. In addition, the Security Services of Ukraine (SBU) searched the Lavra, intensifying the pressure of the authorities. On March 10, the Ministry of Culture terminates the lease agreement and asks the monks to leave by March 29 for “violation of state property use (rules).”
The faithful leave the Moscow Patriarchate
However, on March 30, some were still living there and holding services in front of a few believers. “No one will pull anyone’s leg, there will be no forced expulsion, everything will be done with respect from the lawOleksiy Danilov, Secretary of the National Security Council of Ukraine, said on March 30. “This is a symbolic action, which means that representatives of the Moscow Patriarchate are now unwelcome in Ukraine, because the Moscow Patriarchate supports Putin’s war;says Jean-Francois Colosimo.
“When Patriarch Bartholomew (leader of the Orthodox Church of Constantinople, editor’s note) declares the autonomy of the Ukrainian Church, Moscow cuts off communication with Constantinople.“, explains the historian of religions. From 2019 until now, priests and believers under the authority of the Moscow Patriarchate join the Autonomous Church. But the relocation of places of worship is less obvious. “Sometimes it even comes to blows– assures the religious expert. This hard-to-calculate phenomenon was accentuated with the Russian aggression.
“Finally, the Moscow Patriarchate will be declared persona non grata in Ukraine“, predicts Jean-Francois Colosimo. The state helping the Autonomous Church take over the places of worship now assigned to the EOU-PM. “In war, the agents of the enemy power are themselves enemies. If the faithful are there according to custom, then the hierarchs are all appointed by Moscow“Adds the expert, for whom the war in Ukraine is also religious, Vladimir Putin wants to take back Kiev, the place of baptism of Prince Vladimir Ier of Kiev in 988, whose conversion led to the conversion of his people.
Source: Le Figaro
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.