The construction of a huge monastery of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia is ongoing near Kyiv.
This is reported by Channel 5 citing the project "Stoprevansh" (Stop revenge).
"A giant monastery is being built 30 kilometers from Kyiv, which the locals have already called the Kremlin. Although only a quarter of what was planned has been built, it is already impressive. It belongs to the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, which is not widely known in Ukraine and was created by white emigration 100 years ago," the story says.
Bishop Alexey presides here. He claims to be in opposition to Putin, the FSB, and their church, the \Russian Orthodox Church.
"We do not concelebrate with the Moscow Patriarchate. It has many violations – dogmatic even canonical," says ROCOR Bishop Alexey Pergamentsev.
But all the apparent difference with the Russian Orthodox Church created by Stalin disappears when it comes to Ukraine. So, according to Pergamentsev, "Where are we now? In Ukraine?" he responds traditionally to the remark "in Ukraine": "What difference does it make!".
Even the title of Alexey – "Bishop of Little Russia" - denies the existence of Ukraine. He refuses to answer questions about Crimea.
"Listen. I won't answer any political questions. The church is out of politics. You will not lead me into temptation in any way," the Bishop notes.
But the White Bishop still "led into temptation" the builder Volodya. Therefore, he is also like "what difference does it make".
"We have a politician here. Volodya, what do you think: is Crimea our Ukrainian or Russian?.. Well, it is now under Russia," the builder reflects.
Andriy Kovalyov, an expert on religious issues, explains: the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia will never be in opposition to Russia, and this should be kept in mind.
"We need to understand that this church is still Russian, it promotes Russian meanings, contents, and myths in Ukraine. The Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia may be in opposition to Putin, but it will never be in opposition to Russia," Kovalyov said.