By Dr. Serhiy Shumylo
In recent days, the media has been talking a lot about the law passed by the Verkhovna Rada on the alleged “ban of the UOC.” In fact, if you read the law, it does not mention the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), but rather any religious organizations associated with the religious centers of the aggressor state of Russia. Therefore, it is incorrect to say that this law “bans the UOC”.
And when the UOC itself claims that the law is directed against them, does it mean that they are confirming their affiliation with the religious center of the aggressor state?
Official speakers of the UOC, commenting on the adopted law, constantly emphasize that the UOC is “completely independent” (“de facto autocephalous”), but for some reason they are most afraid of the entry into force of the law. They probably know what they are afraid of.
Because in fact, during the two and a half years of Russia’s war against Ukraine, the UOC has not adopted a single document on its withdrawal from the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (ROC MP), on which it has depended canonically and administratively all these years (since its very creation in 1990).
