ATR Deputy Head: UOC is an evil church, its flock are rams

Journalist and blogger Ayder Muzhdabaev. Photo: Screenshot from Muzhdabaev's YouTube channel

The coronavirus situation has shown that the OCU and UGCC care about people, while the UOC is "one of the main hotbeds of coronavirus in Ukraine," "an evil Church, a killer Church that does not value Ukraine as a state or Ukrainians as a people." This was stated by the self-proclaimed atheist journalist-blogger, a member of the Union of Crimean Tatars of Moscow, and Deputy General Director of the first Crimean Tatar TV channel "ATR," Ayder Muzhdabaev, in his video message published on his YouTube channel on April 19, 2020.

"In this situation (the coronavirus epidemic), it is very telling to see the reaction and attitude of clergy from different denominations," the blogger said. "How vulgar, shameful, inhumane, and arrogant the position of the so-called Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate looks, which in reality is, of course, a direct department of the FSB. But in Ukraine, for some reason, no president, no authority, even after the Maidan, has seriously dealt with them, although they have long deserved it because even people far from Ukraine and Russia understand everything about this Church."

According to him, nothing good can be expected from the UOC and its hierarchs, who "all work for the FSB."

"This structure, which even dares to call itself the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, despises everything Ukrainian <...> they live here comfortably, deny themselves nothing, send money to Moscow to support this FSB structure, ultimately for the war against Ukraine. That is, the bullets that fly at Ukrainian soldiers are quite possibly cast somewhere at the Svyatogorsk Lavra. And here comes the coronavirus when, excuse me, it's just about surviving. And if you can't help citizens like a doctor, at least don't interfere, don't act like an idiot, don't pretend nothing is happening, don't deny the threat, and try to help guide your flock on the right path. No matter what the flock is – not all of them are FSB agents. But they are skillfully managed. They are simply such sheep, probably in the biblical sense of the word, but not only that," Muzhdabaev said.

He emphasized that the OCU and UGCC care about people – "how they help the front now, volunteers, etc. There's nothing to say – both sermons and services are all online without people, just to spare Ukrainians, so that, God forbid, not one more person falls ill."

"Against this background, this FSB organization <..> not only shows with its entire appearance that 'we are Russian, God is with us,' and it turns out that this UOC of the FSB of the Moscow Patriarchate is one of the main hotbeds of coronavirus in Ukraine," the blogger continued. "This is just a nest of the coronavirus where the virus has built its altar and spread everywhere. All the top hierarchs are sick, yet they hide that they are sick, although it is no secret to anyone. But they lie like old mares, which also shows the attitude of this evil Church, the Church of lies. Lies, deceit in every step, in every word, in every movement."

According to him, the UOC "treats its parishioners simply like cattle," who perhaps "deserve it, but their neighbors definitely don't deserve such an attitude. A voluntary choice to go to a madhouse, but you live in society, not somewhere in space."

"And this Sviatohirsk Lavra, or wherever this haven of madness is located, organized the distribution of this, what do you call it, fire, which, apparently, they were allowed to bring to Ukraine for some reason, although I don't know, maybe they lit it from gas in their kitchen, from a cigarette or a joint – I don't care, it's their personal business. The fact is that they are distributing this fire, and television shows this parade of infection, a crowd of people without masks," the journalist said, adding that there are "100 infected FSB relics walking around the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra."

He claimed that the UOC deliberately provokes by gathering many people in one place.

"I believe they have shown all people with two brain cells what kind of Church this is, that it is indeed an evil Church, a killer Church that does not value Ukraine as a state, Ukrainians as a people, or the life of each individual person. <...> They will even get sick themselves but will do everything out of spite for this country. I urge all thinking Orthodox people to leave this Church in the literal sense of the word because there is no greater mockery of common sense, the country, you, your friends, neighbors, children, and parents. This is such an ornate abomination, exquisite brutality. I think this Church will cause a lot more harm," the journalist concluded.

Ayder Muzhdabaev's video message was commented on by the head of the UOC Legal Department, Archpriest Alexander Bakhov.

"A citizen of the Russian Federation from Tambov, who lives in Ukraine and is considered an FSB agent – Ayder Izzetovich Muzhdabaev incites intolerance and religious hatred in our country. Who better than an FSB agent to know the FSB's agents and plans to destabilize the situation in our country on religious grounds? We are preparing document drafts so that every UOC believer can file a complaint in court and law enforcement agencies against Ayder Izzetovich Muzhdabaev," the clergyman wrote on his Facebook page.

As reported by the UOJ, Ayder Muzhdabaev previously called the receipt of the Tomos an "epoch-making decision" for Ukraine and referred to all those who disagreed as a "gang".

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