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| Volunteers remove debris while an Orthodox prays in the Holy Transfiguration Cathedral (Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral) in Odessa, Ukraine |
In the wake of a devastating attack on the Holy Transfiguration Cathedral in Odesa, Ukrainian Orthodox priests are calling for a definitive break with the Russian Orthodox Church. The attack, carried out by Russia, resulted in the destruction of the historic cathedral and claimed two lives while leaving 22 people injured, including four children. This act of aggression came after Russia abandoned the Black Sea Grain Initiative, further intensifying their relentless targeting of Odesa, a crucial port for grain shipments to Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
The Holy Transfiguration Cathedral, also known as the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral, has a significant historical and spiritual significance for the people of Odesa. Consecrated in 1809, it stands as the first and primary Orthodox church in the city. However, it endured a dark period when it was looted and destroyed by Bolsheviks in 1936. The cathedral was later restored during Ukraine's period of independence, but it now faces the threat of destruction again due to the recent terrorist attack.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who visited the ruined cathedral, expressed his anguish at the attempts to destroy this cultural and religious treasure. The Odesa Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) strongly condemned Russia's aggression, emphasizing that the attack was not connected to any military facility and posed a direct threat to the peaceful civilians residing in the area.
In the aftermath of the assault, nearly 300 priests of the UOC-Moscow Patriarchate signed a letter addressed to UOC Metropolitan Onufriy, unequivocally condemning the destruction of the cathedral. The priests urged for an immediate and final break with the Russian Orthodox Church due to Russia's ongoing war on Ukraine, which began in 2014 with attacks on the Donbas region and the attempted annexation of Crimea.
The UOC, historically loyal to Russia, severed its ties with the Moscow Patriarchate in May 2022 in response to Patriarch Kirill's fervent endorsement of Russia's war on Ukraine. This break marked a turning point for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, but concerns remain over lingering loyalties and potential ties between the UOC and Moscow.
The priests in their letter expressed their refusal to suffer for the interests of Russia, Putin, or Kirill, emphasizing that their persecution was not in the name of Christ. They called for a more decisive stance from Metropolitan Onufriy on the relationship between the two churches, as they believed there had been no real rupture despite the 2022 break.
The situation has become increasingly complex as approximately 80% of Ukraine's population identifies as Orthodox. In January 2019, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of the Constantinople Patriarchate recognized the independence of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, distinct from the UOC. This move led to the restoration of Metropolitan Filaret, the head of the UOC-Kyiv Patriarchate, to full communion. In response, the Russian Orthodox Church, under the leadership of Patriarch Kirill, severed communion with Constantinople.
In response to the cathedral attack and concerns about lingering ties between the UOC and Moscow, Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, considered draft legislation aimed at banning the UOC-Moscow Patriarchate. The bill aimed to outlaw religious organizations operating in Ukraine with headquarters in a country carrying out armed aggression against Ukraine.
In the face of these complex circumstances, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church finds itself at a critical crossroads. The attack on the Holy Transfiguration Cathedral has further highlighted the need for a clear and definitive break with the Russian Orthodox Church to assert its autonomy and independence in these turbulent times.
