On double standards and selective use of church traditions
It is not the first time that Ukrainian public discourse has erupted in debates over church customs – especially when the words and actions of religious leaders begin to diverge.
On January 8, 2024, the head of the OCU stated in an interview on Channel 24 that the practice of kissing a priest’s hand is a “slave-like” tradition characteristic of the Russian Church, and that, according to him, the Ukrainian Church is moving away from such practices, since “everyone is friends, not slaves.”
It sounded like a clear signal: the OCU was renouncing vertical, humiliating customs and moving toward a model of Christian brotherhood, in which no one places himself above others.
Yet today, the OCU’s own media outlets published photographs from Rivne showing quite the opposite: during a meeting of senior clergy, one cleric is seen bowing and kissing the hand of another. Precisely the gesture they supposedly “reject.” Precisely what they labeled “slave-like.”
This raises a logical question:
Where is the line between “tradition” and “slavery”? Who here is a friend, and who is a slave? And why does something proclaimed obsolete yesterday appear perfectly acceptable today within the very same structure?
Double standards are a dangerous thing – especially when demonstrated by religious institutions that claim moral leadership.
And one more note…
A ceremonial reception for OCU head Epifaniy took place in Rivne. As usual, the event was widely covered by the Church’s own media outlets, with official photos, comments, and greetings.
All would be unremarkable, were it not for one very telling detail.
In the published photographs, Epifaniy is wearing a warm winter ryasa of the Russian style – precisely the cut traditionally sewn and worn in the Russian ecclesiastical tradition.
A paradox? And quite a striking one.
