Photo: BBC.
Today, the Lviv region took a historic step by freeing itself from religious communities subordinate to the Moscow Patriarchate. This moment has become a real symbol of strengthening spiritual independence and restoring national dignity for the entire country, Time Ukraine Israel reports, citing the Facebook page of Maxim Kozitsky.
Moving away from Moscow’s influence
Before the Russian aggression in Ukraine in 2014, there were 66 religious communities of the Moscow Patriarchate in the Lviv region. As of 24 February 2022, their number had dropped to 54. However, the war not only changed the course of hostilities, but also became a catalyst for significant changes in the religious landscape of the region. With the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the Lviv region continued to fight not only at the front but also in the spiritual sphere.
A common choice in favour of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine
During the full-scale war, 27 religious communities in the Lviv region joined the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, choosing the path of unity with the Ukrainian people and nation. Another 27 communities ceased their activities on their own, continuing to support the attempts of Moscow priests to manipulate believers and impose alien values.
This process embodies an important idea: truth and independence will prevail. Lviv region became the first in Ukraine to no longer have a single registered religious community of the Moscow Patriarchate. This is not just a change in the religious picture of the region, but a powerful symbol of Ukraine’s progress towards spiritual and political independence.
Next – the whole of Ukraine
Now the key question for other regions of the country is whether they will remain under the influence of the Moscow Patriarchate or choose the path of purification that Lviv has so decisively taken. Religious communities that still maintain ties with Muscovy must realise that their future is either the truth or a lie. And only the truth will lead to victory.
Legislative changes, in particular the Law of Ukraine “On the Protection of the Constitutional Order in the Field of Religious Organisations”, offer a chance for further steps in cleansing the country of foreign influences. Religious communities must break ties with Moscow’s structures, choosing the path to unity and prosperity.
A step towards the future
What Ukraine will look like tomorrow depends on each of us. Only together, by combining our efforts on all fronts – both military and spiritual – can we ensure the true independence of our country. The Lviv region has demonstrated the path that all regions of Ukraine should follow, and this step will not remain without consequences for the entire nation.
