Representatives of Various Religions Included in List of Most Influential Ukrainians

This year the rating of the most influential Ukrainians published by the magazine Korrespondent includes the same religious leaders as in 2009: the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP), Metropolitan Volodymyr; the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate (UOC-KP) Patriarch Filaret; the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), Patriarch Lubomyr, and the Chief Rabbi of Ukraine, Yaakov Dov Bleich. Their positions, however, have changed a little.  

According to the edition, Metropolitan Volodymyr became the most influential among the religious leaders. This year he takes the 27^th place in the rating, which is 5 positions higher than the last year.

According to the experts, President Viktor Yanukovych and his environment have always showed loyalty to the UOC-MP, therefore, his influence will grow. Korespondent notes that Metropolitan Volodymyr is a popular person even without the support of the authorities, especially, among the residents of the eastern and southern regions of Ukraine.  Therefore, he remains the pastor and spiritual authority for many believing Ukrainians.

According to the experts of Korespondent, Patriarch Filaret is the second most influential religious figure. This year, he takes the 39^th place in the rating of the most influential Ukrainians, which is 9 positions lower than last year. Analysts associate it primarily with the change of power in Ukraine and note that under President Yanukovych the situation is more difficult for the UOC-KP.

The rating of Patriarch Lubomyr has increased by one position and he now takes the 53^rd place in the “top 100.”

"The stereotype that UGCC is the Church of the western regions of Ukraine has not been true to fact for a long time. There parishes of that Church in the Crimea, in the east, north, and their number slowly but surely increases,” stresses Korespondent.

The authors of the rating call Patriarch Lubomyr probably the only Ukrainian church Hierarch who completely distanced himself from politics. “For the unfinished patriarchal cathedral of UGCC in Kyiv has long been perceived as a symbol of the real independence: its head flatly refuses to accept funds for the church from politicians and rejects other proposals of 'impure' sponsorship.”  

The Chief Rabbi of Kyiv and Ukraine Yaakov Dov Bleich completes the list of the most  influential religious leaders of Ukraine as he takes the 57^th place.  According to Korespondent, during the 20 years of his life in Ukraine, the Jewish communities have grown and synagogues, educational institutions, institutions for the elderly, and cultural centers have been built.  The edition notices the great industriousness of the rabbi. “As the vice president of several international organizations, he often makes foreign trips and represents our Jews at the international level.”