Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ukraine's President, has indicated a potential move to restrict the activities of the Orthodox Church branch associated with Moscow. This development comes as part of efforts to bolster Ukraine's spiritual autonomy amidst ongoing tensions with Russia.
Ukraine's religious landscape is predominantly Orthodox Christian, with two main branches: one traditionally linked to the Russian Orthodox Church and an independent church recognized by the global Orthodox hierarchy in 2019. Since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, the independent church has seen a significant increase in membership.
"I have just held a meeting -- a preparatory one -- regarding a decision that will strengthen our Ukrainian spiritual independence. We must deprive Moscow of the last opportunities to restrict the freedom of Ukrainians. And the decisions for this must be 100% effective. We will ensure that."
The Ukrainian government has accused the Moscow-linked church of supporting Russia's aggression and attempting to influence public opinion negatively. In response to these concerns, the Ukrainian parliament gave initial approval to legislation in 2023 that would have prohibited the activities of religious organizations affiliated with foreign states engaged in armed aggression against Ukraine.
It's worth noting that Ukraine's 1996 constitution guarantees freedom of religion and separation of church and state. However, the current geopolitical situation has led to a reevaluation of these principles in light of national security concerns.
The Moscow-linked church claims to have severed all ties with the Russian Orthodox Church following the invasion. However, Ukrainian authorities dispute this assertion. Criminal proceedings, including treason charges, have been initiated against numerous clerics associated with this church.
The potential ban on the Moscow-linked church is not without controversy. Some Ukrainian lawmakers have expressed concerns that such legislation could face opposition from conservative Republicans in the United States, Ukraine's primary Western supporter, on the grounds of religious freedom restrictions.
The religious landscape in Ukraine has been evolving rapidly since 2019 when the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople granted autocephaly to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. This decision led to a significant shift in the country's spiritual dynamics, with the Moscow Patriarchate losing its 300-year jurisdiction over the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
As Ukraine continues to navigate its path towards spiritual independence, the government's actions regarding religious organizations will likely have far-reaching implications for both domestic affairs and international relations.