Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: At least two soldiers killed by anti-tank missile fired at Israeli army forces in the Gaza Strip
Local Syrian sources: Mortar shells fell on more than nine villages in the Sweida countryside
Local Syrian sources: Dozens of dead and wounded have arrived at Sweida hospitals as a result of ongoing clashes at several locations in the western Sweida countryside
Local sources: Civilians, including children and women, were injured in the al-Maqous neighborhood of Sweida, in Syria, as a result of ongoing clashes
Israeli media outlet: Security incident reported in the Gaza Strip
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson: No new date or venue has been set for the meeting between Araghchi and Witkoff, and no negotiations will take place until the outcome is guaranteed
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation

Russian church condemns Kiev's ban on Ukraine Orthodox Church

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 20 Aug 2024 19:14
3 Min Read

Zelensky hailed the Verkhovna Rada's decision as a step toward "spiritual independence" and stressed the government's commitment to "strengthening Ukraine and our society."

Listen
  • x
  • People attend the Christmas service in the Assumption Cathedral in Lavra, the Monastery of the Caves, Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023. (AP)
    People attend the Christmas service in the Assumption Cathedral in Lavra, the Monastery of the Caves, Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023. (AP)

The Russian Orthodox Church has condemned a recent vote by Ukrainian lawmakers to ban the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC).

This comes after MPs in Kiev on Tuesday approved a bill that outlaws religious organizations connected to Russia, including the UOC, which is alleged to be affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church, also known as the Moscow Patriarchate.

In a statement published on Telegram, Russian Orthodox Church spokesman Vladimir Legoida called the vote "an unlawful act" and "the grossest violation of the basic principles of freedom of conscience and human rights."

He warned that the bill, which still requires President Volodymyr Zelensky's signature to become law, lays the groundwork for "the total liquidation of the parishes of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church."

Legoida warned that enforcing this law could lead to "acts of mass violence against millions of believers."

Read more: Kirill: Russia, Ukraine are one nation, church persecution 'pathetic'

The move comes amid heightened tensions amid Russia's military operation in Ukraine. Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, referenced the challenging times the Church is facing, stating that many have turned against them "not because we are bad but only because we are different."

In contrast, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky defended the law, stating that it would strengthen Ukraine's independence, particularly in the context of the ongoing war which has inadvertently led to religious divides as a result of Ukrainian authorities targeting Russian elements. 

Related News

Raid on Ukrainian Orthodox Church leaves Metropolitan injured

Medvedev condemns Ukraine’s crackdown on Orthodox Church as 'satanism'

Zelensky hailed the Verkhovna Rada's decision as a step toward "spiritual independence" and stressed the government's commitment to "strengthening Ukraine and our society."

BREAKING: Ukrainian parliament votes to ban Ukrainian Orthodox Church. pic.twitter.com/kcHjCk5gvJ

— blue pill red pill your choice (@andred928) August 20, 2024

Cultural targets 

On November 24, 2022, Russian news agency Interfax reported that Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada registered a bill calling for the imposition of a nationwide ban on the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine.

According to the European Solidarity Party, the bill would ban any institutions or organizations which are in part or totally affiliated to the Russian Orthodox faith from carrying out religious activities "in canonical, organizational and other issues," it said in a message on Telegram.  

It further added that the bill aims to defend Ukraine's national security as it associates "the liberation of Ukraine from the Russian Orthodox Church [to] another step towards independent Ukraine."

The move towards banning the Russian Orthodox Church is owed to allegations that certain church members were carrying out spy operations on the Ukraine government. 

The Orthodox Church of Ukraine declared on May 27, 2022, its complete break up from the Russian Orthodox Church due to disagreements over Russia's special military operation. 

Orthodox Bishop Kirill, who has been Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus' and Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church on 1 February 2009, has backed Russia's military campaign in Ukraine, calling on supporters to rally to fight Moscow's "external and internal enemies."

Due to this, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church ceased the commemoration of Patriarch Kirill. 

Following the move, the Moscow Patriarchate said he "understood" their decision to be caused by external pressure.

  • Orthodox Church of Ukraine
  • Russia
  • Russian Orthodox Church
  • Ukraine
Russia & NATO

Russia & NATO

As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS