Why do some Ukrainians still attend the Moscow Church? A priest of the OCU gave a simple explanation.

The war has not changed the attitude of some Ukrainians towards the Moscow Patriarchate

Priest Oleksiy Fil'yuk from the Ternopil eparchy of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine stated that even during the war, many believers continue to attend the Church of the Moscow Patriarchate. This situation is a result of Russian propaganda that has lasted for many years.

According to Fil'yuk, there have been more cases of people leaving the Moscow Patriarchate, but they constitute a minority. The majority remain supporters of this church, even after the beginning of the conflict in Eastern Ukraine.

The influence of Russian propaganda, including regarding the church, has been very significant. Even among the European intelligentsia, such as teachers and doctors, there are followers of the Moscow Patriarchate. And other people are not even mentioned.

According to the priest, some supporters of the Moscow Patriarchate even provide their explanations, for example, that in UOC MP churches they pray in Old Slavic.

Oleksiy Fil'yuk cited the example of a mother who continues to go to church to pray for her son, who was killed by Russian militants. According to the priest, such cases are not isolated.

Earlier, Heorhiy Kovalenko, rector of the Open Orthodox University, noted that the Moscow Patriarchate rather fulfills an ideological function than a religious one. He compared this church to institutions such as 'Rosatom' or 'Rosneft'.

In March of this year, the religious community of the Dmitry of Thessalonica church decided to join the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and leave the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate.