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Ordinary members of the branch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, hitherto unwavering with Moscow, were resolved to break ranks with Russian leaders, their spokesman told AFP on Saturday.

Archbishop Kliment said the church congregation felt it could no longer remain silent.

Speaking inside the Pechersk Lavra Monastery in Kyiv, one of Ukraine’s oldest and holiest sites, a day after the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate declared its “full independence. “

Clerics condemned the voice of Russian Patriarch Kirill over the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine, in a historic move against Moscow’s religious authorities.

Bearded and wearing a black robe, Kliment said his church “accepts, condemns and absolutely dissociates itself from those statements about Russian aggression in Ukraine that came out of the mouth of Patriarch Kirill. “

Kirill is a staunch supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin and has spoken out in favor of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

For Kliment, the scenario is clear. ” The commandment ‘thou shalt not kill’ has no other interpretations,” he said.

“It is difficult for me (to understand) the explanation or the silence of the representatives of the Moscow Patriarchate about the tragedy that is unfolding today,” he added, as tens of thousands of people die and millions are displaced.

– Mediator role of –

Its wing of the Ukrainian church is one of the last links with Russia. He remained faithful despite a 2019 schism that saw the creation of a rival Patriarchy of Kyiv, a blow to Moscow.

Kliment stated that his church “always felt the will of the state” to break with Moscow, and the government here welcomed the decision of the Kyiv Patriarchate.

But this time, he said, the calls had come from his followers.

“There is a need for this, a call in ecclesial society. “

Ukrainian priests tried to “contact the patriarch and the culprits of Russian aggression” in Moscow before their decision, he said, but got no response.

Kliment noted that clerics from across Ukraine — adding separatist-controlled territories — participated in the council, and those from the war zone in the east joined in line.

“The council brought together representatives from almost every diocese, adding those from the east,” he said. His decision, he said, “will be broadcast in Crimea (annexed through Moscow) and in Donbass. “

Clerics from the Moscow Patriarchate play a vital role in territories not under Kyiv’s control, he said, acting as a “bridge” with Ukrainian authorities.

They were concerned about negotiating “the return of prisoners or their exchange and delivery of humanitarian aid,” he said.

But this week’s resolution will be a check on priests running in the areas, he added.

“This demands of those priests a sure courage and wisdom to maintain unity in the church while losing the flock in those regions. “

– The Schism of 2019 –

Bishop Kliment played down hopes for greater unity within Ukrainian Orthodox circles, divided by the 2019 schism.

“It depends largely on them, because the position occupied by the representatives of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine is not constructive,” he said.

He accused them of “choosing the path of confrontation, taking over churches and discrediting our believers. “

This new branch of the church in Kyiv is now swearing allegiance to Istanbul-based Patriarch Bartholomew; the Moscow branch had no goal, Kliment said.

However, rival churches share the view that Patriarch Kirill can no longer rule Ukraine because of his support for the Russian invasion.

After the Sabbath service, many believers, though not all, expressed their point of view.

“I take this resolution because the Bible says ‘thou shalt not kill,'” said one man, Serhii.

Ludmila, 65, added that she hoped priests would avoid mentioning Kirill at prayer services, which she said was “really terrible and offensive. “

But another woman, Olena, 40, said she was involved in the schism. “I am afraid this will weaken the Orthodox Church. “

She hoped that Kyiv would not give up worship in the Russian language because “this ancient church language is very spiritual: it reconciles body and soul and brings strength to other people for centuries. “

When asked his opinion on Kirill, he stopped, sighed, and said, “It’s better to communicate about who war is. “

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