The year 2015 is drawing to a close, in just a couple of weeks we will be opening a new page in our personal lives and as a nation in general. Trying to summarize, we realize that events must be evaluated in their progress, in our case for two past years. Recently the Patriarch of Kyiv and All Rus’-Ukraine, Filaret, marked his spiritual name day. In the run-up to the celebration we presented His Holiness with the most recent publication from Den’s Library, Return to Tsarhorod, and together made an attempt at summing up what we have all been through, viewing social and civil problems from the perspective of our spiritual dimension.
“THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES IN TWO DIMENSIONS”
We are living in hard times, in the aftermath of Maidan. Besides, the war in the east is still going on. Lots of people ask: what next? How do you feel about it?
“In the future we are in for the continuation of the struggle in two dimensions: external, against today’s aggressor, because we cannot step back before we liberate the Ukrainian territory from the enemy, and internal, against an inner evil which is corruption. We are experiencing it more and more extensively, the entire world is talking about it. During all the years of independence, starting with the first president, everyone spoke about corruption, yet this evil has not shrunk. On the contrary, it has grown into a habit. Some highly placed officials cannot live without bribery. Unfortunately, getting rid of a habit is very hard. If we do not overcome this evil, it will be hard to speak of a democratic Ukraine. Let us remember that Maidan originally started as a protest against this corruption, actually, it was based on the drive for free, democratic life. Sadly, after two years we see no results. Why are there none? We are talking a lot about it, yet we do not do anything. It is necessary to walk the talk. Of course, our people’s patience is incredible, but every patience has its limits. Since we cannot overcome the drawbacks that are in Ukraine, God Himself defeats the evil with His providence. Everyone knows how divided Ukraine is. There is a proverb: where there are two Ukrainians, there are two Hetmans [an equivalent of ‘too many chiefs, not enough Indians.’ – Ed.]. The Lord permitted the war in the east, and people began to unite to defend their country. This unification involves not only the military who are directly engaged in war, but also entire Ukraine, including volunteers and all the people who care, who help each other in various ways. The war in the east of our country reveals that it is too early to dismiss our society as a failure. We do not have to be looked down at as a corrupt state. Instead, we must appear as a state defending its freedom and territory, and is peaceful at that. On the one hand, there is vice and corruption, on the other, great sacrifice and love for each other. Unfortunately, we pay a high price for this unity. I fear that the same can happen to fighting corruption. If we do not overcome it, God will permit something again. That is why we need to destroy the reasons for corruption on all levels. In my opinion, the key reasons include low wages and unfair taxation. It is necessary to reform the taxation system and make every effort to develop medium business which helps fill the budget, as well as improve Ukrainians’ living standards.”
Recently Ukrainians were choosing local government. By the way, if I am not mistaken, you were among the first visitors at your polling station in Kyiv. However, the turnout proved deplorably low. Where does this paradoxical situation come from: society is active in the time of revolutions, but as time passes, disillusionment and passivity set in?
“I do not think that people are not ready for struggle. On the contrary, today society could start a third Maidan. God forbid this from happening. If life keeps getting harder, people will not tolerate it. Why such a low turnout? Because people were disillusioned in the very process of electing which, in their eyes, had lost its efficiency: what you get is the same corrupt schemes and MPs’ empty promises. Do you want another explanation for the same old faces in the same places? The people are not yet mature enough to choose, so they voted for the wrong ones. Or probably (I will not deny that), the conventional rigging schemes worked.”
“THE POST-SOVIET SYNDROME PERSISTS”
A few weeks ago we marked the second anniversary of the Revolution of Dignity, which was undoubtedly started by young people and students. A part of them are today fighting in the east, another part is busy volunteering, and yet another, frankly speaking, is indifferently watching the life in the country, disillusioned with its leaders. What do you think of today’s Ukrainian youth?
“I am very positive about the youth of today, we pin all our hopes on these people. They urge us to strive for a better, dignified life in a democratic European state. The young started Maidan and set clear-cut demands before the then government, showing its determination, but as of today, they do not yet have an experience in leadership. When the young learn to run their own state professionally, then essential changes will begin. At present we only have the legacy of the Soviet tradition of leadership, deeply rooted in virtually all branches of government. Unfortunately, the post-Soviet syndrome persists. Only the young are capable of uprooting it completely, and only then new life will begin.”
Speaking of the youth, nowadays there are quite a few popular trends and movements in society. The young are increasingly more prone to create new idols, while Church often remains only marginally popular. Why is this happening? Have the developments of Maidan affected somehow the communication between Church and society, in particular, the communication with young people?
“Our Church has a special department for youth policy. We often hold summer camps, talks, conferences, and seminars. Of course, this is not enough to get all young Ukrainians involved. That is why our Church advocates teaching optional courses in Christian ethics at schools and universities, without any coercion. I think that nothing else but education should be the tool to teach how to tell good from evil. Then we will get rid of those negative idols and harmful popular trends.”
“ONE AND MOST IMPORTANT OBSTACLE IS MOSCOW’S INFLUENCE”
Return to Tsarhorod, a book from Den’s Library presented to you, shows that Church has always had big influence on various aspects of public life. What exactly must Church do today to effectively develop society?
“State cannot exist without Church. This is particularly true for Christian Orthodox countries. The rise of state is inevitably associated with the rise of an independent Church as a spiritual foundation for its existence. There are abundant examples: Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Georgia, or Russia. There can be no indivisible state without indivisible Church. In 1991, when Ukrainians chose independence, we declared that we need an Autocephalous Church. Had it not been for the so-called Kharkiv Synodical Council, Ukraine would have a single Orthodox Church now. If we had a single Church, there would be no war going on. Now Ukrainians are encouraged to fight for their own independence and territorial integrity by the clergy of the UOC KP and UGCC, as well as by leaders of Protestant communities. Forty percent of Ukrainians support our Church today. Our state will always remain endangered unless we have a single Orthodox Church.”
After Euromaidan, the clerical circles turned to the idea of a local (autonomous) church, yet so far we see that a lot has yet to be done to set up the dialog. What obstacles do you see on the path to implementing this model of united Ukrainian Orthodox Christianity?
“There is one and most important obstacle, Moscow’s influence on the Ukrainian Church due to dependence of the clergy, which does not allow them to fully support their nation in its fight against the aggressor. The war really reveals who is who: unfortunately, there still are priests and bishops in the UOC who urge Putin to come here and rescue Ukraine. Ordinary believers see this ‘fifth column’ and do not want to be associated with it, that is why entire parishes leave the Moscow Patriarchate and go over to the Kyivan Patriarchate. This is actually a grassroots unification process. In cities these conversions happen painlessly, but in villages with only one parish they are accompanied by tough struggle. Certainly, this process could be accelerated if the Ecumenical Patriarch recognized the Kyivan Patriarchate as an Autocephalous Church. In its turn, this would enable going-over not only for parishioners, but for clergy as well.”
“I HAVE TWO DREAMS”
In May 2016 you will be marking the 50th anniversary of your service in Kyiv. What do you feel as this important anniversary is coming closer? What does it mean for you?
“Throughout my whole life the Lord has helped me to overcome any obstacles. From my own experience I see that it is God that leads Church, but not without our participation. St. Apostle Paul says, ‘I planted the vineyard, but God grew everything!’ Likewise it happens in my life: I have worked hard, with God’s help, and it has produced certain results. When I became exarch in the Soviet time, the regime stopped closing churches down. During the independence years, the small Kyivan Patriarchate has grown into a Church with the largest numbers of believers. I have mentioned already that today we are supported by 40 percent of Ukrainians, and this is not only the result of my service as the patriarch; it is also the result of the service of all the bishops and clergy and believers self, who set an example for others. On the eve of this anniversary I have two dreams. The first, worldly, is to form a united Local Orthodox Church, independent from Moscow; the other, purely Christian, to enter eternal God’s Kingdom. This worldly ambition for me is secondary, the main goal is to achieve blessed heavenly life.”
Now we, Christians, have entered the Nativity Fast. What expectations should we cherish on the eve of the oncoming holiday, what thoughts should we meet it with?
“A fast is nothing new in a Christian’s life, this is part of any believer’s existence. It is a period of abstinence from sin and all things evil. During such a period it is worth speaking of doing good deeds. For man lives not for the fast, but for kindness and love; the fast only urges man to do charity and share the warmth of his heart with others. Just like all Christians, I will rejoice meeting the Nativity of 2016, for if the Son of God had not incarnated, death would rule over the sons of men, and we all would be confined to hell. We do not ponder over what would happen if Jesus Christ had not come into this world, overcoming sin with his death. Now we are living in the atmosphere of the performed salvation, in Christian hope for our own resurrection and blessed life. We are preoccupied with our country’s future, we think we will stay forever young, but we do not look into what awaits us after death. We must look at the elderly and understand that this is what awaits us, too. Everyone has his own end. The Nativity of Christ is the testimony of mankind’s salvation from an evil future, that is why we must approach this feast with hope and faith, and with great joy, for only God will help us overcome all troubles and obstacles.”
