Corruption in 'patriot' ranks or How Filaret earns dividends

Representatives of the Kiev Patriarchate love speaking out against corruption in the state and supporting various anti-corruption initiatives. Recall Filaret’s statements à la "Corruption for Ukraine is more terrible than aggression of the RF and Putin", "The Synod decided to separate from the holy communion those who give and take bribes," etc. The desire to combat corruption in our country is certainly commendable, but there is a suspicion that the Kiev Patriarchate does so solely for gaining publicity, in order to win the sympathy of the citizens of Ukraine. How is the UOC-KP going to fight corruption, if it is thoroughly imbued with the mentality of corruption? Judge for yourself.

Recall a recent talk with prank phone-caller "Vovan," who introduced himself as the mayor of Kiev Vitali Klitschko. The pseudo-mayor asked the "spiritual leader" of Ukrainians for the support of holding the Eurovision Song Contest opening ceremony in the shrine of the Ukrainian people – St. Sophia of Kiev, promising in return to back up the Kiev Patriarchate. After the last "magic words", the head of the Kiev Patriarchate immediately perked up and began to trade, putting its "price" to the support of the scandalous initiative: "The eighth building of St. Michael’s Monastery ... that’s where the autocephalous church is in ... it occupies a little space ... we would like to move it out from there. St. Michael's Monastery is our spiritual academy. So part of the building is occupied by the autocephalous church, we would like a contract with them to be discontinued and the premises to be given to us." In case of meeting this request, Filaret promised to bless the participants of the Eurovision and even speak on the stage with a "bearded woman" Conchita Wurst. What is this if not an act of corruption? Filaret is well aware that the official, in fact, agrees to a bribe for certain services. And he encourages this!

Let’s move on. February 19, 2016 the then Minister of Culture Viacheslav Kirilenko announced about the transfer of the church refectory of the Museum-Reserve "St. Sophia of Kiev" to the Kiev Patriarchate. The "corruption" motive was voiced by the official of the Ministry of Culture Andrei Yurash: this religious organization showed itself with "dignity" on the Maidan during the revolution of 2014. It is worth mentioning that Viacheslav Kirilenko is a member of the Supreme Council of the Kiev Patriarchate, and therefore it is no wonder why he is lobbying the interests of this particular religious structure. For the "service" with Little Sophia he was re-elected to the Supreme Council of the UOC-KP. On May 13, 2016, "The Council of Bishops of the UOC-KP" thanked all those "who have personally contributed to the approval of the decision to grant the temple of Little (Warm) Sophia to the Kiev Patriarchate for ministry." And here, too, is the deal – Manus manum lavat [1]. Kiev Patriarchate provides political support to the authorities receiving in return quite tangible and intangible dividends.

Even autocephalists, who certainly no less acted in support of the Maidan, began to point to an abnormality of such a selective treatment of the state authorities: "...although the current government calls itself democratic and European, but it does not support pan-European moral values as it unequally treats its citizens in Ukraine, including Christian communities."

Just a few days ago Filaret defended the "1 + 1" TV channel. It does not look somewhat surprising, considering the mentioned methods of work of the Kiev Patriarchate, because it is this media resource which helps Filaret followers interpret the events of religious life in Ukraine in a favorable light for them. It is the journalists of this channel who repeatedly drag the name of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the mud, showing only those facts and events that are beneficial to a particular religious denomination, namely the Kiev Patriarchate. This is how Mikhail Denisenko expressed his solidarity: "... we support the "1 + 1" Channel…" 1 + 1" is different in that it gives, on the one hand, accurate information, and on the other hand, brings up TV viewers in a patriotic spirit."

Even the provisions of the Criminal Code of Ukraine Filaret interprets at his own discretion for one purpose – to please "patriots". For example, on December 31, 2016, in the White Church, Filaret wished the soldiers of the notorious battalion "Tornado" early release. He was not interested in the fact that these persons, according to the chief military prosecutor Anatoly Matios, were arrested for gang rape, and one of them for such actions was sentenced to 6 years. Mikhail Denisenko does not pay attention to such things; they are not an argument for him.
In return for support of nationalists, he ensures that they have a stunning publicity: "Let us pray that Almighty God delivered them from this bondage ... They sit just for Ukraine, as Peter Kalnyshevsky ..." He does not even hesitate to compare the convicted criminals with recently glorified among the saints Peter Kalnyshevsky! Filaret does not care what the military prosecution authorities speak of the crimes committed by these persons; this does not bother the head of the Kiev Patriarchate. If for Ukraine, anything goes ... A wild patriotism, isn’t it? I wonder how it is combined with the evangelical context. No doubt, the Kiev Patriarchate will come up with something. The main thing is to avoid misunderstandings with the "patriots," and they will do anything for it ... In the same line can be mentioned Filaret’s support of the "Svoboda" member Yuri Sirotiuk suspected of organizing riots at the Verkhovna Rada in August 2015, which led to the deaths of several national guardians and damage to the health of tens of people. Indeed, "Svoboda" is actively supporting the Kiev Patriarchate.

Political analyst Kost Bondarenko explained Filaret’s actions in the following way: "As for Patriarch Filaret’s motion for the release of Sirotiuk, I would say that this step is predictable. After all, the head of the Kiev Patriarchate has always had good relations with the representatives of the "extreme" political forces. In his time, he maintained friendly relations with the UNA-UNSO, with Dmitry Korchinsky’s "Brotherhood". Filaret’s nationalism and his alliance with the nationalists is dictated by the fact that he understands that in his conflict with the Moscow Patriarchate and Russian Orthodoxy, he can only rely on those who would support it systematically and to the end. First of all we are talking about forcible seizure of Moscow Patriarchate churches and intimidation of priests of this denomination. He is now with those who are anti-Russian, anti-Moscow Patriarchate because he understands that his personal "vendetta" with the Russian hierarchs can find reinforcements only among the extreme right forces. Given that Filaret comes from the Donetsk region, I would even say that he as a "true Donetsk" native operates most pragmatically and most consistently."

Supporters of the Kiev Patriarchate also should think about why a criminal investigation into smuggling and trafficking of the humanitarian aid by the organization, which is part of the UOC-KP, was unexpectedly closed. After reviewing the case file, it is simply impossible to imagine how it could happen. The list of found items included those which could hardly be called "humanitarian aid." We are not suggesting anything, but if the case was connected with any of the politicians, the Kiev Patriarchate would probably have angrily condemned such a "shame."

The Kiev Patriarchate’s support for Patriarch Bartholomew also has a corruption character. Many statements by the head of the UOC-KP are driven by the same motive – recognize us, and we will support any, even crazy initiative of yours. Questions of faith, protection of Orthodoxy do not interest speakers of the unrecognized church. The main thing is to be recognized, and everything else does not matter.

One can cite many examples of the corruption logic in the "Commercial patriarchy" – "collaboration" with the local authorities to seize temples, exemption from taxes, doing business, etc.

Well, Filaret further continues his strategic policy, which began in the notorious 90th: to make friends he can benefit from, to support those who bring profit, even if it contradicts the norms of the Church, and sometimes the state. Everybody remembers Filaret’s friendship with the first president Kravchuk, when the state administration took entirely the side of the newly formed Kiev Patriarchate, which, like today, physically grabbed churches and buildings of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. We remember friendship with Korchinsky’s militants, who wanted to seize the Holy Dormition Kiev-Pechersk Lavra and organized pogroms of the western dioceses of the UOC. We remember such characters as Chervony, Skorik, Porovsky, who forcefully created a political and religious alliance "Kiev Patriarchate". It is benefits and their own dividends that become the driving force in the choice of "friendship" for the Kiev Patriarchate. I wonder how long such a friendship will last.

Why do parishioners of the "patriotic" church do not pay attention to it? If they really want to combat corruption in the country, why do they support the corrupt activities of their own leaders? After all, there is no "good" corruption. What is more, can’t UOC-KP supporters think that the fight against corruption for their spiritual "guides" is just a cover, and they will never go against the power – the hand that feeds them? And Filaret, and Mikhail Zinkevich, and Yevstratii Zoria will willingly close their eyes to "ripping off" and "deceiving" Ukrainians for their own well-being.

Reference:

1. One hand washes the other (Lat.)