Party Affiliation of Sponsor Determines Confessional Affiliation of Church in Kyiv

A church in Kyiv, which was originally built as a church of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (UAOC), was consecrated as a church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) on the eve of the Feast of the Intercession. The representatives of the UAOC who began to build the church explain that its sponsor became a member of the Party of Regions and warn the faithful against aggression. The UOC-MP representatives call this situation an example of peaceful coexistence. The head of the presidential administration, Serhii Liovochkin, promises to look into the situation and “protect the rights of both religious communities.”

There is a Church of Borys and Hlib of the UAOC located next to the newly consecrated Cathedral of the Holy Transfiguration of the UOC-MP. It was the parishioners of the Church of St. Borys and Hlib who initiated the construction of the new church next to it as it became too small for the parishioners.

According to the senior priest of the church of the UAOC, Fr. Yurii Boiko, who was the initiator of the construction, participated in the development of the drafts of the mosaic, iconostasis and the church itself, the sponsor of the construction, a businessman Ihor Lysov joined the Party of Regions and shortly after, confronted the community with the fact: join the Moscow Patriarchate or lose the church.

“The church was built by the sponsor with the funds of a commercial structure and on a land plot of that structure. He has a right to dispose of the church and pass it to any other community. But there is also a spiritual aspect: the community of the UAOC has prayed at this place since 1991. For the whole period of the four years we were in the church, participated in the construction except for the most complicated works,” noted the priest.

According to radiosvoboda.org, the faithful of the UAOC consider themselves to be deceived. “Father Yurii did a lot. He put his soul into that church. And I am so sorry he will never be able to serve there again,” noted a Kyiv resident, Liudmyla Holubieva.

The press secretary of the head of the UOC-MP, Fr. Heorhii Kovalenko, stressed that there was no conversion from one denomination to the other or a conflict between the religious communities. “It has been and continues to be our church. The people who built it approached the senior priest with a request to consecrate it. On the day of the consecration, Bishop Oleksandr of Khmelnytskyi and Pereiaslav served a service there and at the same time a service was served in the church of the UAOC. There was no conflict. We hope it will become an example of peaceful coexistence of two churches and two denominations next to each other,” noted Fr. Heorhii and expressed hope that “the UAOC together with its church buildings will eventually join the UOC.”

Head of the presidential administration Serhii Liovochkin commented on the situation for Radio Svoboda. He stated that he heard nothing about the church overturn at Teremky but promised to “look into that and restore justice.”

“I will give an order to sort out the situation at Teremky. All members of the presidential administration are tolerant to all denominations regardless of where they make their confessions or pray. And according to the position of the president, equal rights will be granted to all citizens of Ukraine,” summed up the official.