Ukraine cracks down on Orthodox Church over alleged ties to Russia

Ukraine cracks down on Orthodox Church over alleged ties to Russia | Honolulu Star-Announcer

By Associated Press | April 1, 2023

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church has historical ties to the Russian Orthodox Church, whose leader supported Russian President Vladimir Putin during the invasion of Ukraine.

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Supporters of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church hold a portrait of Metropolitan Onufriy as monks resisted a government order to leave the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery complex in Kyiv, Ukraine on Saturday, April 1. notified a high priest on Saturday that he was suspected of justifying Russia’s aggression, a criminal offence, Metropolitan Pavel, abbot of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra Monastery, Ukraine’s most revered Orthodox site, resisted authorities’ orders to leave the compound. Earlier in the week he cursed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, threatening him with damnation.

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Priests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church pray with their supporters after resisting a government order to leave the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery complex in Kyiv, Ukraine on Saturday, April 1.

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A supporter of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church holds an icon outside the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra Monastery complex in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, April 1.

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People demonstrate in front of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra Monastery complex by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Kyiv, Ukraine on Saturday, April 1.

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Metropolitan Epifaniy, center, head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, walks after the official ceremony of presentation of certificates of Ukrainian military chaplains at Saint Sophia’s Cathedral in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, April 1. The first group of chaplains to be officially included in the Ukrainian Armed Forces with military ranks graduated in a ceremony at St. Sophia’s Cathedral in central Kyiv. Although the army once included chaplains, they were not officially part of the military structure and had no ranks.

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Metropolitan Epifaniy, head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, with his back to the camera, blesses Ukrainian military chaplains during the official certificate ceremony at Saint Sophia’s Cathedral in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, April 1.

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Metropolitan Epifaniy, head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, walks after the official certificate ceremony for Ukrainian military chaplains at Saint Sophia’s Cathedral in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, April 1.

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Crews of mobile air defense units are seen at Antonov Airport as the gutted remains of the Antonov An-225, the world’s largest cargo plane, destroyed in fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces, are seen in the background, in Hostomel, on the outskirts of Kiev, Ukraine, Saturday April 1.

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A Ukrainian soldier from a mobile air defense unit demonstrates his skills at Antonov Airport as the gutted remains of the Antonov An-225, the world’s largest cargo plane, destroyed in fighting between Russian forces and Ukrainians, are seen in the background, in Hostomel, on the outskirts of Kiev, Ukraine, Saturday April 1.

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A Ukrainian soldier from a mobile air defense unit demonstrates his skills at the Antonov airport in Hostomel, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, April 1.

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Airport workers look at the gutted remains of the Antonov An-225, the world’s largest cargo plane, destroyed in fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces, at Hostomel’s Antonov Airport on the outskirts of Kyiv , in Ukraine, on Saturday, April 1.

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Ukrainian soldiers from Mobile Air Defense Units pose for a photo at Antonov Airport, in front of the gutted remains of the Antonov An-225, the world’s largest cargo plane, destroyed in fighting between Russian forces and Ukrainians, in Hostomel, on the outskirts of Kiev, Ukraine, Saturday, April 1.

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Joint Force Commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Serhiy Nayev is seen at the Antonov airport in Hostomel, on the outskirts of kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, April 1.

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Joint Force Commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Serhiy Nayev, left, talks to soldiers of mobile air defense units at Hostomel Antonov Airport on the outskirts of Kiev, Ukraine, Saturday, April 1. put an Orthodox leader under house arrest

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