Perspectief 2015-28

2015-28 The Church and Reconciliation: 7 Reag eer However, the fact is that the UOC is a subject of ROC, and ROC is heavily influenced by the Russian government. That means UOC has difficulties recognizing the fact of the Russian aggression in the East, and the bishops prefer to be silent about it. The fact is also that there is a significant number of the UOC members, especially in the East, including priests, who disapprove of the current Ukrainian government at least no less than they disapprove of the actions of separatists. Thus, they do not support Ukraine’s protective military initiatives in Donetsk and Lugansk regions. Because of that, in the Ukrainian society, which is electrified with war, UOC is more and more considered to be not enough patriotic and even dangerous for Ukrainian integrity and sovereignty. Especially by the members of the Kyiv Patriarchate it is often identified as the “Kremlin’s agent.” Cases of the occupation of the UOC MP churches by UOC KP priests and faithful in Western Ukraine, which took place in the past few months, are primarily connected with that perception of UOC MP in the society. Nonetheless, what is very difficult on the global level, is already taking place locally: on the level of concrete parishes, priests and laity one can observe successful initiatives directed towards peace and reconciliation, which in the midst of misery unite people around Christ and give them hope for a better future. In what follows I will concentrate on the experience of one particular parish which I belong to: I will talk about its position and activities during the protests in Kyiv and in the course of the military actions in the East, and, finally, I will