The victory of Volodymyr Zelensky in the Ukrainian presidential elections predictably inspired the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (ROC MP). Many church officials held prayer services the day before the vote, hoping that Petro Poroshenko would not be elected president and calling on all ROC parishioners in Ukraine to vote against him.
Unlike Russian President Vladimir Putin, who refrained from congratulating Poroshenko, ROC Patriarch Kirill Gundyaev sent his congratulations to the newly elected president of the neighboring country. Here is the full text, highlighting the most important fragments:
«Dear Volodymyr Oleksandrovych! Please accept my congratulations on your election to the high and responsible position of President of Ukraine. The Ukrainian people, who supported your candidacy, have great hopes for positive changes in their lives. You have been given a historic opportunity to unite the nation and make a personal contribution to solving the country’s economic and social problems, overcoming existing conflicts and divisions. I am convinced that the effective work of the state system to improve people’s living standards can be achieved only through the joint efforts of all well-meaning forces in society, with their full participation in a national dialogue. I sincerely hope that the sad period of persecution and discrimination of Ukrainian citizens belonging to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church will come to an end. May the merciful God help you in your good deeds and initiatives and grant you wisdom in your future work for the good of the Ukrainian people. Sincerely, KIRILL, PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA».
Thus, the ROC continues its tradition of supporting any power that can be beneficial to it, regardless of the beliefs of its bearers. This was the case during Soviet times, when it prayed for atheistic authorities, and it is happening now, when, in a predominantly Christian country, it supports not a church-oriented conservative Christian, but an irreligious representative of a profession shameful for the church, who is also of Jewish origin (unbaptized).
The logic is quite understandable. After all, Petro Poroshenko himself used to be a parishioner of the ROC (UOC MP) Church, and one of his projects was the establishment of an independent Orthodox Church in Ukraine, free from Moscow’s influence. From this point of view, it is more convenient for the ROC to have anyone at the head of Ukraine, be it a prankster, a Jew, or even the devil himself, as long as he does not interfere in religious affairs, unlike the previous (still serving) president.
Both the ROC and the Kremlin seek non-interference of the state in the religious sphere in Ukraine by its authorities. However, their policy in Russia itself is exactly the opposite — the creation of a regime that most favors a de facto state religion and church, the maximum restriction of all others, and the outright suppression of those who can compete with it in the struggle for the minds and souls of Russian citizens (Jehovah’s Witnesses, Baptists, independent Islamic organizations, etc.).