This opinion was expressed by religion scholar and mamber of the Ukrainian parliament Victor Yelenskyy to Gazeta.ua.
“As early as in 2009, Patriarch Kirill said that Ukrainians should review their choice and become part of the Russian World.” Indeed, our nation has made a significant contribution to the rise of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union. He believes that, together with the Russians will be able to create a center of civilizational forces capable of opposing the West. He wanted to improve thereby his value with the Kremlin, become the third person in Russia after Medvedev and Putin. But we chose to go West,” Victor Yelenskyy said.
Patriarch Kirill did not factor it in, the religion scholar said.
“He noted that the Ukrainian Orthodox congregation is on his side and will stand with Russia. But this did not happen. To prove his importance, he said that the war between Russia and Ukraine is religious. However, it did not help. The faithful and clergymen started leaving the denomination. Today, the churches of the Moscow Patriarchate perform funeral services for ATO fighters, and tomorrow they praise Patriarch Kirill. For that reason, Metropolitan Onufriy had to allow not to remember Patriarch Kirill during the liturgy,” Yelenskyy said.
It is an abnormal situation where there are several Orthodox Churches in one country. Especially in Ukraine, where almost all the faithful are Orthodox. The only Orthodox Church in Ukraine is near at hand, the expert believes.