Religious Maidan: Clergy in Defense of Peace and Justice

As long as the Maidan continues in Kyiv, the clergy will not stand on the sidelines. They have gone beyond allowing protesters to use their churches to partaking fully in the demonstrations. Every day the priests lead prayer sessions. But their presence isn’t limited only to prayer. RISU correspondent visited EuroMaidan and talked with several priests and their flock.

Yuriy, Father Deacon of the Church of Sts. Borys and Hlib, chair of the Federation of Fighting Hopak in the Kyiv Oblast, aged 33

Father Deacon Yuriy helps people by working in the stock on the premises of the cathedral, which provides food, firewood, and clothing to all centers of the demonstrations. Every morning he celebrates a service in the church, and then goes to the Maidan to continue to help those in need.

I came here because of my patriotic position, since I was disappointed in politics in the past and do not trust anyone. However, I believe in our people, in our country, and am convinced that I must be here until our requirements are fulfilled. At present, it is clear that the opposition has gone to negotiate with the government since the parliament rejected a no-confidence vote, and now the opposition is giving it a “last chance.”

Yanukovych will not be impeached; it is very unlikely because he cannot suddenly lose everything that he amassed all these years. He has extensive sins, which cannot be pardoned in one act. Progress will be when the president will start a dialogue with the people – that will be our victory. First of all, he needs to promise not to prosecute those who participated in the protests and the Interior Ministry Vitaly Zakharchenko must resign.

We have strength because people are investing in the future by taking to the streets. And in our church activities, we emphasize that not politics, but mercy and God's law, which is paramount, must be present.

People defend their freedom, which is not against the law, and the law of God, which is the highest of all. The essence of all that is happening is a revolution of consciousness and the unity of the people, not a revolution that will not lead to anything.

Father Heorhiy Yankovsky, parish priest of the St. Nicholas parish in Kyiv

Already for the third day Father Heorhiy is on the Maidan to support the people and watch over the barricades, so that in the case of an assault by the law enforcement, women and children will manage to escape. He set up a small area where people can pray, confess, and join the morning or evening services.

I stand here as a citizen and a priest. We decided to go the Maidan and to help people not to be on the sidelines. Yes, I am ready to stand in the chain; we all are on duty for that. It is our goal to protect people from the violence that has been condoned by the government.

The goal of creating a peaceful barrier is to gain time until the women and children have time to get to safety. However, no one is going to attack Berkut, because this is a nonviolent campaign of resistance.

Yana, student at Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, aged 20

For the sixth day she is on the Maidan, helping protesters at St. Michael's Cathedral. She voluntarily skipped her classes to join the volunteer camp. She regularly takes warm clothes to people, hands out food, and makes sure that everyone has everything they need.

People now sleep in multiple locations, including in the cathedral, some of them are there around the clock. We give them blankets and they lie down straight on the floor. Priests treat the arrangement with full understanding, sometimes service continues while some protesters are sleeping after duty near the walls, in the nave.

On the first day, when we first found refuge here, seminarians came to us and said quietly that everyone can stay in the rooms of the Theological Seminary, if need be. In addition, they read the Gospel, conduct service, and anyone can join them.

Of course, this is difficult to maintain. I’m exhausted; there is constantly work to do. I go home at three, sometimes four in the morning, sleep a little and return. I will stand here until the end, because I can’t sleep normally – as soon as I close my eyes I see images of myself distributing food, helping people ... All the events of the day appear before my eyes.

All people will stand until the end, because it is a public outburst that cannot subside so easily. If this is understood then there will be more action and changes in each of us.

Mykhailo, businessman, coordinator of the volunteer center

He stresses that he is an atheist, and coordinates the assistance on the cathedral premises without any problems, because his desire to help the people comes from the bottom of his heart.

We support any “clamor” besides starvation (he laughs). This is my sixth day here; I help people and spend the nights here. My family doesn’t even know that I'm on Maidan, I just said that I had some business to do – and there were questions. Here, you know, is youthful romance, a little vacation for the soul.

But we will “clamor” to the end; I'm sort of a romantic at heart. I am here purely on my own initiative.

Seminarians: Training in Serving Others

And on the Maidan are ten seminarians – for them it is their civic duty and the mission of people who are preparing to become priests. Maybe this where their vocations are forming.

Brother Oleh, who is in his second year at the seminary, on the website of the UGCC shares his impressions: “On the Maidan all the people are living in hope that they will be heard, that the flagrant violation of human rights in their homeland will stop, that finally the criminals will be punished in a fair trial... Of course, success depends on how many people come to the Maidan, but not only on that. This whole situation needs unceasing prayer for all participants and for the successful and peaceful resolution of the situation. So support us, be with us physically and in prayer! ‘Storm the heaven with prayers!’”

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As long as the volunteers do not stop responding to the requests of the poor protesters, the cathedral continues evening service, and on the street around the icons, placed on the ledge of the wall, a private prayer is held. A group of people stand in a semi-circle around a young man reading the Holy Scriptures, they repeat after him the prayer, and ask him to read certain passages. This is religious self-organization near the walls of the monastery.

At the entrance to St. Michael's and on Independence Square (Maidan) several groups of people sit around barrels with fires, they quietly talk, fight against the strong gusts of cold wind. The air rings from the silence, it is extremely quiet, as the people on duty prepare for a long night.

The Maidan bustles with life: here are visitors who gather around the fire, eating sandwiches that were brought to them by students; here are football fans who prefer stay warm by kicking a ball around; here is the main community, which stands near the stage, repeating the slogans of the speakers; here are the guards of the barricades who stare intently into the faces of anyone who comes and goes; and here are the women who organized all the volunteers at the headquarters in the House of Trade Unions. Though many are beginning to lose confidence and hope in the success of the protests, the atmosphere is homely and very polite, as it should be in Europe by its very nature.

Tetiana Mukhomorova