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In the Ukrainian city Donetsk, the split between pro-Russians and nationalists exists on a religious level as well, with a sharp disconnect between churches seeking to Ukraine united and churches with ties to Moscow.
Priest of the local Greek Catholic church 43-year-old Father Tikhon said “we should say thank you to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, who helped us to understand that we are Ukrainians. The aggression against Ukraine has helped reinforce our identity”. The “aggression” he speaks of includes the capture of government building in Donetsk and neighbouring regions by pro-Russian forces, supported by men suspected of having direct links to Moscow.
Tikhon oversees a modest two-room chapel in Donetsk. He was one of the 2,000 strong rally for Ukrainian unity held in the city last week. He does not let his church responsibilities to get in the way of being a part of the looming conflict. Speaking about the Russian takeover threat, he said, “If God allows such a thing to happen, we will defend our country. I know several people who are ready to defend their homeland, Ukraine, arms in their hand. A great number of my parishioners and members of my family tell me that they will start a guerrilla war”.
Despite several churches banding together to pray for unity and peace, the absence of the Russian Orthodox Church, Ukraine’s largest religion, has been conspicuous. Press Officer for the Donetsk diocese of the Moscow patriarchate, Father Georgy Gulyayev, says that the divide is not political, but religious.
“We have called for calm, we pray for peace and for a compromise in this complicated situation. But we don’t participate in these common prayers and protests because our religious practices are different. We take a balanced position”, he said. Father Gulyayev added that the Russian Orthodox Church has parishioners all over the country and “cannot defend the interests of one single region”.
