Kyiv Patriarchate sniffed out a "lame duck" in Poroshenko?

Epatage and the Kyiv Patriarchate are practically inseparable. Representatives of this denomination never tire of surprising us with their actions and statements, regularly giving plenty of food for thought.

Why? Because the fine flair of Filaret’s supporters concerning political changes in the state remains on top in all circumstances. And all their actions take into account the current political situation.

We all remember how the representatives of the UOC-KP were active in maidans throughout the country during the revolution of 2014. Of course, for them it was their "H-hour". Taking into account the tendentiousness of the situation, the schismatics immediately decided on a favorable side for them.

Eloquent speeches in support of the protesters and the new course of state policy had their effect, and a few weeks after the revolutionary events, legends were spoken of the "priests" the UOC-KP, opposing them to the hated "Moscow priests".

Post-Maidan political reforms determined the composition of the parliament and specified the person who later became the president of the country. All these metamorphoses were actively supported by the UOC-KP as well. For example, if Petro Poroshenko voiced anti-corruption theses, Filaret also spoke about this, even during sermons. If the political majority glorified the European integration course of Ukraine, the same was spoken out in the UOC-KP – from the "patriarch" to the ordinary clerk.

This "idyll" lasted for more than two years. Some "priests" of the UOC-KP bravely ran for deputies from the pro-presidential BPP. Poroshenko was frequented by the first persons of the Ukrainian church schism. But, apparently, it's time “to change the shoes”.

It's no secret that among the "clergy" of the UOC-KP during the war in the Donbass, a group of "priests of the god of war" or, in other words, chaplains, began to appear. This particular estate began to set a trend in the Kyiv Patriarchate. And when chaplains speak in the UOC-KP, all the others should remain silent. No matter what nonsense they sometimes say.

Once, back in the time of the existence of the Maidan hundreds, the most hard-boiled in all senses of the word joined the ranks of Filaret chaplains. As a rule, among them were those who had nothing to lose: neither home, nor the flag, nor the parish. Chaplaincy, I must say, has opened to these people a number of vast opportunities.

First of all, a UOC-KP chaplain was no longer afraid of his superiors. After wide recognition, none of these people looked back at their ruling "bishop" because there were people behind him who, in case of the pressure of the "bishop" on the chaplain, could accuse the former of some "treachery".

Secondly, a Maidan chaplain automatically became a chaplain in the war zone in the east, where he received ... military ranks, glory, a uniform, etc., in short, a full package of privileges. Little by little these chaplains finally drowned out the voice of reason among Filaret adherents. The tone and meaning of their sermons are completely marginal, aggressive and allegedly infected with a revolutionary ulcer. So it's just a waiting game – when will it go off? Well, and it went off!

The first chaplain who openly rebelled against post-Maidan authority was "priest" Pavel Dobriansky. His criticism of Poroshenko and the parliamentary majority was hard, without special ceremony. Having failed to realize his needs at the expense of the Maidan, Dobriansky began to actively call for the beginning of the third revolution.



No less active in the calls for a new anti-state uprising remains the well-known "archpriest" Sergei Tkachuk. He, being a chaplain of the UPA and the battalion connected with the name of the people's deputy Oleg Liashko, has called for the violent overthrow of power in the country recently.

Along with this, Tkachuk is sure that "thieves and profiteers" are in power in Ukraine now. He wrote this on his Facebook page, commenting on the recent situation with the illegal crossing of the state border by former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili.



By the way, it is the person of Saakashvili who has provokes genuine interest among representatives of the Kyiv Patriarchate lately. It should be noted that the "chaplain" of the UOC-KP from Kherson, Igor Petrenko, also took part in the illegal breakthrough of the state border on Mikho’s side. In fact, he was detained by the police for this.

If you look at the situation more closely, it turns out that the aforementioned chaplain also has claims to the current authorities. Otherwise, he would not have taken the risk of illegally breaking through the state border.

Meanwhile, during his reception in Zhitomir, another Maidan chaplain from the UOC-KP spoke out in favor of the Mikho. "I want to say about the BPP party ... it's not the BPP, it's the bandit party of Petro Poroshenko," said the chaplain, standing on the stage with Saakashvili.



A similar situation took place in Khmelnitsky. There another Maidan chaplain blessed Mikho for overthrowing the power in Ukraine http://uoj.org.ua/en/novosti/sobytiya/maidan-priest-of-uoc-kp-blesses-saakashvili-for-overthrow-of-p... . Nikolai Fatich called Mikheil Saakashvili "an iceberg that will sweep away with his truth this bunch of scoundrels" (authority).



On top of this juicy dessert is, perhaps, a statement of one more chaplain of the UOC-KP, Andrey Chmel. On his Facebook page, he said that he was leaving the army, but at the same time he called for an uprising of the military and the overthrow of the current government. "I call on the top leadership of the Army to take up responsibility for the state because of Poroshenko's apparent incompetence to take any action in defense of the state," Chmel wrote.



After that some questions arise. First, why is the leadership of the UOC-KP silent? Do Filaret and Co tacitly support all those ideas that the chaplains declare? Secondly, why does the SSU, which has been very actively monitoring pages in social networks for calls for the overthrow of power, keep silent? And finally – isn’t Saakashvili the next favorite of Filaret’s adherents?

It is obvious that the President and his BPP have lost their positions. Along with this, people's discontent is growing every day. Does the UOC-KP want to lead a new revolution? But what about the achievements of the Maidan and praises of Poroshenko and his team? Does it really mean that the UOC-KP officials think that their activity in supporting the current power will simply be forgotten?

It is quite obvious that the criticism of the authorities by the representatives of the Kyiv Patriarchate stems from a concern for the people and their welfare. We can assume that this is an elementary "putting eggs in different baskets." On the one hand, the highest ranks of the UOC-KP will continue to imitate loyalty to Poroshenko, on the other hand – insure themselves against his removal from power. The mentality of the leadership of the schismatics does not imply commitment and adherence to principles – only benefits and business trends.

In this context, it seems rather ironic that the current government has done for the Kyiv Patriarchate more than any other political forces: an appeal to Patriarch Bartholomew, the transfer of Little Sophia, open lobbying of the Kyiv Patriarchate’s interests by the Ministry of Culture, planned suppression of the UOC and so on. All this was done in exchange for attracting the electorate in the upcoming 2019. And suddenly such "an ungrateful thank-you". If only Filaret sniffs out a "lame duck", no "merits before the Church" will help. Poroshenko should take this into account.