Ukrainian Orthodox leaders struggle to cut Moscow ties

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov confirmed that during the first round of Istanbul talks Moscow asked Ukraine to withdraw legislation that could ban the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Several bishops of the historically Moscow-aligned Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) reportedly hoped to sever its official ties with the Russian Orthodox Church and declare independence at a meeting in Kyiv on the third anniversary of the “Feofaniia Council” at the end of May. 

Some bishops proposed the UOC return to communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and that it take steps to address the declaration and promotion of its autocephaly decision among the rest of the Orthodox family. However, the meeting did not take such definitive steps.

The UOC primate Metropolitan Onufriy instead insisted that the actions he took in 2022 “fundamentally changed” the life of the Church, such that “after 27 May 2022, we [were] no longer part of the Patriarchate of Moscow”.

“The council clearly stated the aspiration of our Church for full canonical independence. And presently, we already have all the attributes of such independence. Our Church independently resolves all issues of her internal and external life,” Onufriy said.

“We hope that the entire family of autocephalous local Churches will morally support us, approve our canonical independence, and acknowledge it with a proper sign.”

The UOC’s status carries political weight beyond church circles, with Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov confirming that during the first round of Istanbul talks Moscow asked Ukraine to withdraw legislation that could ban the UOC for its perceived ties to Patriarch Kirill of Moscow.

“We demanded that all those discriminatory laws be abolished, and we will continue to do so at the next round of direct talks,” Lavrov said.

While Russia continues to frame the UOC’s legal rights as a matter of international negotiation, it is also a cause of tension within the broader Orthodox world. An explosive report by Orthodox Times, citing sources close to the Ecumenical Patriarchate and in Ukraine, describes the country’s religious landscape as “tragic” and riddled with internal dysfunction.

The report is especially critical of two leading figures in the autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine – its primate Metropolitan Epifaniy and Archbishop Evstratiy (Zorya).

“Metropolitan Epifaniy is not a figure who inspires,” the report said. “If someone like Anastasios [former Primate of the Church of Albania, known for his missionary work] were to go to Ukraine, he would attract all Orthodox believers like a magnet. They would unite around him. Now, [Epifaniy is] a man who is not accepted – who cannot unify.”

The report also criticised the UOC’s Metropolitan Onufriy, reportedly perceived by some in Istanbul as a “spiritual man and a simple monk” but without any “charisma”.

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