Volodymyr Zelensky wants to limit the activities of religious organizations linked to Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in kyiv on September 8, 2022. AP - Genya Savilov

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1 min

The Ukrainian president is preparing to question the status of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, dependent on the Patriarchate of Moscow, but whose headquarters are in kyiv.

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With our correspondent in Kiev,

Stéphane Siohan

During his video address on Thursday evening, Volodymyr Zelensky discreetly fired a first-rate political missile at Russia.

By announcing that kyiv is preparing to limit the activities on its territory of religious organizations linked to Russia, the Ukrainian head of state evokes neither more nor less the closure of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church dependent on the Moscow Patriarchate. 

For several years, however, the powerful religious armed wing of the Kremlin in Ukraine has been losing ground against its rival, the Patriarchate of kyiv, erected into a Unified Ukrainian Church, recognized by Constantinople.

In recent times, law enforcement has stepped up searches at several Moscow-affiliated churches across the country, including the Pechersk Lavra Monastery, the ecclesiastical seat of the Moscow Patriarchate in Kyiv.

Officially, it is to search for agents and spies who would be housed in the sanctuaries.

But in reality, it is at the very root of this colonial war between Russia and Ukraine that Volodymyr Zelensky touches.

The nascent Russian empire had transferred the seat of the Orthodox Church from kyiv to Moscow in the 17th century, establishing four centuries of spiritual dominance from Russia over Ukraine.

From now on, Ukraine is seeking to dismantle

the networks of the Russian Church

on its soil, and regain full religious autonomy, far, very far from Moscow.

► Also to listen: Ukraine, fault line: the Churches in the conflict

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  • Ukraine

  • Volodymyr Zelensky

  • Religion

  • Russia