Why does the UOC not Agree to Alternate Worship in their Churches?
Imagine the following situation: there is a specific location with only one church, which has always been assigned to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Due to various reasons in this village, a new religious community - the UOC-KP, the UGCC or the CEC – is formed. This community (although in our case, this assertion is controversial) partly consists of former members of the UOC, but the community of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church remains preserved (though not in a full body). What, logically, would representatives of a newly formed religious community do first? They would build their religious, primarily liturgical life, by constructing a temple. Today in Ukraine all the denominations, except the UOC-KP, go this way. Gone are the days when Greek Catholics were engaged in church raiding, never did so the Protestants, but the UOC-KP decided that they can do differently: either in form of an ultimatum to make the UOC agree to alternating prayers in the church or seize the church by force, "moving out" its legal owners, which happens more often than not. The UOC-KP supporters’ logic is simple: "We are more numerous, so we're right." However, what would happen if the same logic were turned against them? For example, in the locality where the Ukrainian Orthodox Church followers make the majority, they would come and take away the church of the UOC-KP, or bring them over to alternate worship. How would representatives of the UOC-KP react to such ideas? There is another aspect, which concerns the creation of a new religious community in the village. Somehow, in this or that village / town, where there is a church of the UOC-KP (and sometimes more than one), when a new UOC community is formed, none of its believers comes to the church of the Kiev Patriarchate with a demand to vacate the cult premises for their need or alternate service. Contrary to that, representatives of the UOC-KP even object to the very appearance of the UOC community in a "chosen place", to say nothing of the construction of a new church. In fact, the essence of this matter lies in the basic property relations. We may provide a similar analogy: your house community comes to your apartment with the demand for alternate overnight, because you have a larger and more comfortable bed, which no other tenants have. What would be your reaction to this idea? Hardly positive. If the UOC-KP forms a new religious community, it does not mean that they are automatically granted the right to grab the nearest places of worship - even if the representatives of the UOC-KP constitute the majority. You are creating a religious community? Build a church! Starting a family? Build a house! Everything seems to be quite logical. This problem, however, is an indicator of not only the escalation of interfaith conflict, but legal impotence of state institutions. When the law can not provide the right of ownership to individuals or legal entities, when raiders feel complete impunity, carrying out their dubious activities, few people can feel secure. Today this is a church of the UOC, tomorrow this could happen to someone's private home. Based on materials from the “About the Church” portal Updated Thursday, October 8, 2015, 12:21
Read also
Autonomy of the UOC and removal of the Donetsk Metropolitan
On October 24, 2024, the ROC Synod decided to release Metropolitan Ilarion from the see of the Donetsk Eparchy and retire him. What does this decision mean for the UOC?
What secrets about the UOJ did the SBU uncover through its agent?
Recently, UOJ staff members Andriy Ovcharenko, Valeriy Stupnytskyi, and Volodymyr Bobecko, as well as priest Serhiy Chertylin, received indictments on charges of treason.
Three mysterious synods: What was decided in relation to the UOC?
This week, sessions of three synods of different Orthodox Churches were held. What did they decide regarding the existence of the Church in Ukraine?
Cherkasy Cathedral seized, what's next?
On 17 October 2024, supporters of the OCU seized the Cathedral in Cherkasy. How can events unfold, and what could this mean for the Church?
Faith against violence: Chronicle of the UOC cathedral seizure in Cherkasy
On 17 October 2024, OCU followers seized the UOC cathedral in Cherkasy. How did it happen, and what conclusions can we draw from this event?
The arson of a UOC temple, or Once again about “free transitions” to OCU
In late September, supporters of the OCU burnt down a UOC church in Volyn. How is this arson related to the myth of “free transitions” from the UOC to the OCU?