As Ukraine and Russia Battle Over Orthodoxy, Schism Looms

[Anon-C]

By Andrew Higgins
Dec. 31, 2018

CHERNYTSYA, Ukraine — Ukraine is on the verge of opening the biggest schism in Christianity in centuries, as it breaks from the authority of a Moscow-based patriarch and this week expects to formally gain recognition for its own church, taking tens of millions of followers.

Intensifying a millennium-old religious struggle freighted with 21st-century geopolitical baggage, Ukraine’s security services have in recent weeks interrogated priests loyal to Moscow, searched church properties and enraged their Russian rivals.

“They just want to frighten us,” said the Rev. Vasily Nachev, one of more than a dozen priests loyal to the Moscow patriarch who were called in for questioning.

The new Ukrainian church is expected to be granted legitimacy on Jan. 6, the eve of the Orthodox Christmas, when its newly elected head, Metropolitan Epiphanius, travels to Istanbul to receive an official charter from the Constantinople patriarchate, a longtime rival power center to Moscow.

The prospect of a new and entirely autonomous church in Ukraine has sent Russia’s political and religious leaders into fits of indignation, even raising fears that Moscow will try to sabotage the project by force.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/31/world/europe/ukraine-russia-orthodox-church-schism.html

[Igel]

1. By the time it's acknowledged, schism's already occurred.

It's not the speech act that matters, it's what happens on the ground.

The Episcopalian schism happened before the official split. Nobody hardly called it "schism," though, because it was the main and approved body who did the actual "schising" and it's tradition to say it's the group making the changes and departing that actually is responsible.

[SunSeeker]

2. Things sure have come full circle from the days when these were officially athiest countries.

Not that anyone there is actually following the teachings of Christ. This is all driven by nationalism. That is a constant that has not changed.

[shenmue]

3. May I have your permisson to cross-post this in the Catholic and Orthodox section?

Thanks.

[Anon-C]

4. Please do!

And thank you!

[shenmue]

5. Thanks

[maxsolomon]

6. The Russian Orthodox Church is fully allied with Putin.

They don't exactly have much choice in a Mafia-run nation.

Ukraine is practicing religious self-defense.