KRAMATORSK, Ukraine – Amid the fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces in eastern Ukraine, another quieter but deeply symbolic conflict is playing out — a battle between rival Orthodox churches.
Two branches of Ukrainian Orthodoxy compete for believers in Kramatorsk, just 20 kilometers from the front lines. One is the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), created in 2018 with the Ukrainian government’s backing. The other is the older Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), historically tied to Moscow.
Following Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion, many Ukrainians turned away from anything linked to Moscow. The Ukrainian government has sought to ban the Moscow-affiliated UOC, accusing it of spreading Russian influence and harboring spies within its clergy. The UOC denies the claims and says it has cut ties with Moscow and condemned the war.
Still, in cities like Kramatorsk, the UOC retains a loyal following, particularly among older, Russian-speaking Ukrainians who recall the Soviet era fondly.
Archpriest Oleksandr Tkachuk, who leads a small OCU parish in a modest wooden chapel, sees the UOC as a threat. “It’s just the FSB under the guise of the church,” he claimed, referring to Russia’s intelligence agency. His congregation is small but committed. “We pray to Epiphanius, not Onufriy,” said 63-year-old Mykola, referencing the leaders of the two rival churches.
Mykola’s hostility runs deep. His son died during the 2014 pro-European revolution, and his village was destroyed by Russian bombs in 2023. He blames the UOC for aiding Russian influence and wants its churches shut down.
Nationally, support for the OCU has surged. In 2020, 34% of Ukrainians identified with it. By 2023, that figure jumped to 56%. Support for the UOC, meanwhile, dropped from 15% to 6%.
However, Kramatorsk’s main cathedral — the Holy Trinity Cathedral, part of the UOC — remains popular. It draws a sizable elderly crowd. Bells ring, prayers echo, and some worshippers kneel, heads bowed to the floor. A painting of a muscular, Soviet-style Jesus decorates a nearby room, reflecting the era many attendees feel nostalgic for.
Archpriest Sergiy Kapitonenko, who leads the cathedral, dismisses the accusations against his church. “The more you forbid something, the more people want it,” he said, comparing the current pressure to Soviet-era religious persecution. While he prays for Ukraine and says soldiers often visit, he refuses to join the OCU. “Orthodox means conservative,” he added. “That has been the essence of our church for 2,000 years.”
Ukrainian authorities say they’ve launched criminal cases against 180 UOC priests, often on suspicion of collaborating with Russia. Still, the UOC insists it no longer honors Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, who once called the war a “holy” mission.
Military chaplains like Father Oleg remain skeptical. “Russia is using the Church as a political tool,” he warned.
For some visitors, like 22-year-old Roman Salnykov from Kyiv, the differences between the churches feel more about politics than faith. “I visited both. Maybe the only difference is the priests,” he said.| – Balikas.net
