The Ukrainian Orthodox Church upholds the peace and Philaret followers and Raskolniks – the war

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church carries out difficult mission of preservation of the principles of peace and harmony in the conditions of aggressive anti-Russian promotion and continuous provocations from Raskolniks and nationalists. The head of the Press service of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate Vasily Semenovich Anisimov answers the questions of «The world and we».
—Does the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate feel the pressure from nationalist, Raskolniks' and the Uniate forces in connection with the latest events in Ukraine? How will the elections to the Verkhovna Rada and changes in the Ukrainian power affect a situation in your opinion?
Now the situation is same as was before elections. Elections didn’t end yet — still the voices are counting. Nobody knows how exactly the new power will be created. There were both occupations of temples and attempts to set the Raskolniks', Uniate, terrorist organizations on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church which is the part of the Russian Orthodox Church. Such attempts are recorded, priests address to law enforcement agencies. The executive officer metropolitan Anthony proved full illegality of acts when, for example, some people come, collect the village, demand that the orthodox church refused the Orthodoxy and passed into split jurisdiction. The data about these illegal acts are led up to the leadership of Ukraine, the President of Ukraine also is informed on it. We hope that our politicians will be engaged in arrangement of the country, but not religious questions.
— According to geography of such events, where do they occur most?
In Kiev there were no such situations. It generally occurs in the west of Ukraine — in the Volynsk, Rovnensk areas. Some political forces come back to a subject of creation of local Orthodox Church. But we have such church long ago, it exists one thousand years — it is the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. And besides all these interventions in affairs of Church are violation of the Constitution and laws of Ukraine. We hope that the power will react to them and, at least, won’t motivate anti-church actions in society. Especially as they have a lot of things to be engaged — there is a war, ruin, cold, poverty. Therefore attempts of occupations of temples are real marauding. When one is engaged in the help to victims, reconcile belligerent parties, so Philaret followers try to organize occupations of temples in this muddy water.
— What is the situation with activity of religious sects?
Their activity and its consequences were a little overshadowed because of war. Of course, their activity was more noticeable in a peace time than now. But they, certainly, continue to work. Of course, all know that Turchynov is the Protestant, Yatsenyuk, though positions himself as the Greek-Catholic, but the people often say that he belongs to «Church of Scientology». Of course, he doesn’t admit it, but there was information that his sister belongs to this sect. And the President Poroshenko in general declares that he is the orthodox Christian of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
On the other hand, all of them congratulated the metropolitan Onuphrius on election, told good words. Therefore if they say that aspire to Europe, will treat the traditional Church in the European way.
Due to the latest events the regularity of work of the State committee on affairs of a nationality and religions was broken therefore the exact statistics and results of control of sects' activity are unknown at the moment.
— Is the difference in the relation to military operations in the Southeast from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate and Philaret followers, Uniate?
It should be noted that there are some «Kiev Patriarchate» at us, including autocephalous therefore it is necessary to consider not only Philaret followers. Will Philaret carry out any lustration? According to the law on lustration he has to be exposed as the agent of KGB that he admitted. Besides he actively cooperated with all previous authorities.
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church qualified this conflict as fratricidal. It also adheres to this position. The benefit is that a fragile truce is observed now. At the same time the union and splits occupied «hurrah — patriotic» position at once— «all for the front, for war», supported the nationalist, militant forces, party of war. Therefore our positions completely differ. It is obvious that simple Ukrainian soldiers are our children in army and our brothers as well as residents of Lugansk and Donetsk. We have more than one thousand parishes there — it is our believers. By the way, Philaret followers were very little there — split wasn’t welcomed in the east.
The peace is above all. The God will judge who is right and who is guilty, but a murder sin is a mortal sin and lays down on everyone who makes it.
— How did the situation with split and traditional problems which the Ukrainian Orthodox Church faces, change in connection with election of the new metropolitan Onuphrius?
The metropolitan Vladimir was ill before the death therefore some weakening of the management was observed. The metropolitan Onuphrius is the metropolitan still of times of persecutions, the bishop from Soviet period, from a priestly sort and passed a lot of things. This is very courageous person and of course, he is not from those people who will change a position of Church on request of some political aspirations. It is not a political puppet as same Philaret and other dissenters. Therefore the Church got stronger, it enjoys support and understanding including in power which perfectly understands that the true church has to take such position. It would be desirable to congratulate the Most blessed Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine Onuphrius who celebrated70-year anniversary on November 5!
— How does the Church treat the massive anti-Russian promotion forced in the Ukrainian mass media which is directed on creation of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia?
This promotional campaign is conducted not for the first year. But nevertheless we managed to keep unity and traditions. Now it became much more difficult. Because many try to present the intra Ukrainian conflict as aggression of Russia, create an image of the enemy from Russia and the Russian people. Completely all Russian channels are switched off, the alternative points of view are smoothed out. Such is the democracy and freedom of speech.
It is difficult to pick up the comments for activity of the Ukrainian mass media. All of them «hit into one billiard pocket» and then the President disproves them. For example, they told that 50 people were lost near Ilovaysk, nearly a victory was won. And then it appears that there were one thousand killed and one thousand prisoners. This agony of the conflict and intensity is constantly piled on. Mega hysteria daily and hourly flows from the Ukrainian mass media. And before Church is worth resisting very complex challenge to it, defending the principles of peace preservation.