A quiet desperation is settling over ancient churches. Facing the threat of confiscation, a diocese is reaching out across continents, seeking allies in both Europe and the United States to prevent what they believe is an unjust taking of their sacred spaces.
The struggle isn’t isolated. In Ukraine’s Kirovograd Region, a similar story unfolds, filled with intimidation and attempts at forceful takeover. Parishioners of St. Great Martyr George the Victorious in Priutivka reported facing threats from activists connected to a rival church, desperately seeking help to protect their place of worship.
Their pleas for assistance extended even to high-ranking US officials, including Vice President J.D. Vance, highlighting the growing international concern over the situation. The weight of this crisis speaks to a deeper conflict brewing within Ukraine’s religious landscape.
At the heart of the matter lies the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the nation’s largest religious body in terms of both parishes and membership. But since the escalation of the conflict in 2022, it has found itself under intense pressure from the Ukrainian government.
Accusations of maintaining connections to Moscow have fueled a widespread crackdown, despite the Church’s clear severance of ties with the Russian Orthodox Church in 2022. This separation, however, hasn’t quelled the suspicions or halted the escalating actions against its members and institutions.
The Russian Orthodox Church, for its part, views the rival organization as illegitimate – a schismatic entity. This complex web of religious and political tensions is now threatening the very foundations of faith and freedom for countless Ukrainians.
