The Ukrainian mass media “give” the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to the Kremlin

Recently the Sacred Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church took place on which infamous archbishop Alexander (Drabinko) was dismissed from the head of Department of External Church Relations and deduced from structure of permanent members of the Synod. It was preceded by the long information company in the Ukrainian mass media, directed on discredit of the management of the Church, containing the appeals to autocephaly creation, separation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church from the Russian Orthodox Church. According to many people, close to Church, the detached archbishop was directly or indirectly involved in carrying out of this company. The information approach to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church gathered new force after carrying out of the Synod. At once there were articles in several editions directed against metropolitan Vladimir and the top management of Church. All these materials were literally penetrated by Russophobia and the anti-Russian attacks. We asked the head of the press service of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Vasily Semenovich Anisimov to comment on situation.

- In your opinion does the archbishop Alexander Drabinko carried out the activity independently or there were the certain forces directed against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church?

We shouldn't project the political templates on Church. The groups of influence and their competition are in the political environment. What forces can stand behind him? Possibly, he acts one, adhering to the views. I can’t present, that behind some ambiguous actions of the lord Alexander there was, for example, metropolitan Vladimir, though Drabinko is his secretary. Because I know the Saint for 20 years and the last 10 years I’m under his administration. It is impossible to present, that Saint can arranged any troubles in Church. After all he considers that trouble can be in society, but the Church should be uniform and nothing should prevent to it to carry out the saving mission – to lead the person to God. It is inadmissible, that we were engaged in a showdown among themselves instead of cares of people problems.

- Probably, this schismatic influence on the archbishop proceeds from Philaret and his organization?

Philaret is separated from Church. He is in lie embraces. St.Vladimir always very painfully treats when the next employees discuss each other. I do not think that lord Alexander sold himself to someone. And for what purpose he would sell himself, if he is the archbishop here, has the highest possibilities. If he aspires to realization of the potential, so St.Vladimir opened huge prospects to him.

- How can you explain the intensity of the information company directed against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church which occurred with indirect participation of the archbishop Alexander?

There is a specifics of the Ukrainian information space when, often, the journalists who are absolutely not understanding the reported question, nevertheless, write and speak on these subjects in the most active way. Also they aspire, first of all, to sensational nature of the materials. Such editions as “Mirror of Week”, “Comments” can't distinguish primate from the prior, Archangel from the archimandrite, a cross from crescent. But thus they not simply report the Church activity, but also attack it with an authoritative look. I can’t present to myself that I attacked someone, without understanding what occurs there in general. Therefore I think that it is especially custom-made, paid campaign. After all the journalist won't get into another's subject voluntarily. There are a lot of people, wishing to kindle an anti-church fire in Ukraine. Because the union and dissidence are watchful. And it is bad that our some colleagues, unfortunately, too started to bring firewood in a fire.

- In your opinion, can this company be the action of any political forces?

If to speak about the concrete forces, so that are Philaret and those forces which support him, of course. But his motivation is obvious – he committed a concrete crime, appropriated the church cash desk and doesn't want to give back. Therefore he decided to prove that he, unlike all the others, is the patriot therefore the cash desk should belong to him. Here he also forces the information waves. Especially, the Philaret’s people are extremely frightened now that the metropolitan Agafangel, probably, becomes the Head of Church. And this figure is legendary and extremely dangerous to Philaret. Therefore all of them also were alarmed, suddenly became the terrible experts in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Here force me to tell something about their “serpentarium” or, for example, what occur at the members of the Uniat Church, who is sick and who is healthy – I will never do such step, without knowing a situation. And here the set of comments and articles are with one message, all act unanimously – the Church is given to Moscow.

- And there is one general feature in all these comments– their anti-Russian orientation …

I say, it is obviously clear, that it is the custom-made, paid company. Because the person should though to collect any arguments and here all is known in advance – Agafangel is the enemy of Ukraine at once. Though, he is represented in the Verkhovna Rada on the picture as the founding father of Ukraine. He was the deputy when the declaration on independence was announced and was then the unique ecclesiastic in parliament. He is represented on the picture as blessing this event. It is absolutely legendary personality and “guys” don't know over whom they came down at all.

And there are “shakedowns” to mass media, so that they traditionally only the anti-Russian. Tell that church will be given to America tomorrow so many people would begin to cry here by hot tears of pleasure. Here in a present situation if the Ukrainian Orthodox Church will be given back to Lavr which is a part of the Russian Orthodox Church, then, “naturally”, it will be given to the Kremlin. But why nobody shouted when the cathedral of Sacred Yura was transferred to the members of the Uniat Church that this church was given to Rome? Because anywhere these cathedrals didn't move, their communities are the citizens of Ukraine. Thus, serious provocation is untied against church. The most curious that nothing occurs in dioceses in general – there are no protests and indignations. And here all our information space works in regime of the alarmed hen house – while the last layer won’t cackle, it wouldn’t calm down. And, if the first still understands, from where the ring goes, so the last already cry out without any sense and purpose. Here also it turns out that the young official was entered into the Synod last year, he sat at one meeting and was deduced this year – well, it is the accident, Church was given to Russia! How do you like the logic? And the matter is about quite young man who reached not much – why is Russia here why Church was given to it?

- Thus, the situation in Church becomes a reason for forces which are interested not in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, but the political and geopolitical tasks which are expressing in confrontation with Russia?

Historically it was developed even since adoption of the Declaration on independence of Ukraine. Then there were the great expectations that after that we will become self-sufficient, happy and rich. But after that the events developed, to put it mildly, according to other scenario. The people die out 300-400 thousand, the villages become empty. Here also look for the reason now. Probably, it would be necessary to look, who and how many steals? But, no, it appears, the major reason is the Church which existed here for 1000 years and is an independent part of the Russian Orthodox Church. Thus it is absolutely independent, all decisions are accepted by itself, has the Synod and the Head.

It is connected with Moscow only by that the Patriarch is a Patriarch for all and, besides, the general Cathedrals for the solution of universal and all-church problems are carried out, after all the Russian Orthodox Church is in tens countries. Now, possibly, the reason of problems is seen in it. Here now “let's leave from under Moscow” and we will leave spiritual “bondage”. But the dissenters “left” for a long time and it is known to what they came. Therefore, when the real problems of society, state are substituted for any absolutely mythological occasions, it always turns into continuous search of the enemy. It is difficult to say that I live badly because I’m guilty in it by myself. Here it appears that now the Church structure is guilty in something.

Therefore, of course, the matter is not in intra church problems. The same Drabinko in “The independent newspaper” told that we have a uniform Russian Orthodox Church. And his some actions and he were used as information reason for three lines in the first paragraph. In order then to direct the poison of insinuations on the Patriarch, Agafangel, the Sacred Synod. Besides, Agafangel supported Putin in one of interview to the Russian news agency. All “advanced” mass media brand Putin and he appeared such “black sheep”. Here, naturally, the hysterics began in the press – if he supported Putin and in simple interview, it means surely that he will present our Church to Putin!

The big disappointment is caused with that the image of St. Vladimir suffered as a result of the latest events. I stay in belief that this is the great metropolitan, the person of high, selfless service, wrote a lot about it for the last 20 years. Soon we will celebrate the anniversary of the Kharkov Hierarchal Cathedral and Primacy of St. Metropolitan Vladimir. I am sure that his name takes a worthy place in the history of Church and Ukraine and the researches and publications should be devoted. Instead, whichever way it goes, the name of the Metropolitan mention only in connection with the thought-up intrigues, verses of the lord secretary. Also it is quite tragic situation.
St.Vladimir always wanted that there the unity and rest would be in Church and that nothing prevented it to carry out the foreordained mission – to lead the person to God. The Metropolitan declared about it in the last interview and his colleagues - the members of the Sacred Synod, the most authoritative bishops representing everything regions of the country stand on the same point of view unshakably. They don’t let to undermine the unity and the world in Church Christ's, as though who wanted it.