for decades, the kyiv patriarchate has been in the shadow of the more powerful moscow patriarch it. rink of recognition by most of the global 0rthodox community, led by the patriarch of constantinople. breaking over three centuries of spiritual domination here by russia. driven by popular anger at the russian orthodox church's support of vladimir putin and his military intervention in ukraine. but for many of the 12,000 churches here affiliated to the moscow patriarch it, this split has been traumatic. father nikolai's faculties began a year ago. “— father nikolai's faculties began a year ago. —— difficulties. father nikolai's faithful now gather in the living room of his home. chanting as they have through thick and thin, in soviet times. and in the 27 years of a free, independent ukraine. the concern is that you are not loyal to ukraine if you follow the ba rt loyal to ukraine if you follow the bart couprie. —— moscow patriarchate. father nikolai and her leaner and not only proud of being ukrainian, their own son pavlov fought against russian backed rebels in the east of ukraine. y

the moscow patriarch the process of granting autocephaly is artificial imposed from outside does not reflect internal ecclesiastical necessity will not bring real church unity will deepen division and intensify conflicts among the people of ukraine under these conditions the participation of the pesky pait clergy and laity of the you see in these process is is considered impossible and how is the russian orthodox church reacted well this is triggered a total breakdown in relations the moscow patriarchate has rejected this decision they've stated that they have had all thought over the key of corrugation since the seventeenth century and they've even called the schism triggered a schism with constantinople buying their followers from attending any ceremonies any communions with this church who they have now officially split with the russian orthodox church does not accept these decisions and will not follow them schism is schism and its leaders are the leaders of the schism and the church that accepted the schism excluded itself from the canonical field of decision has been made to dr

that's a very much angered the moscow patriarchate the process of granting autocephaly is artificial imposed from outside does not reflect internal ecclesiastical necessity will not bring real church unity will deepen division and intensify conflicts among the people of ukraine under these conditions the participation of the pesky pate clergy and laity of the you see in these process is is considered impossible. how is the russian orthodox church reacted list as a whole breakdown in relations i mean the moscow patriarch has rejected this decision they've said they've controlled the key of the church since about the seventeenth century they will not accept this decision and indeed this is actually triggered a schism within the church the moscow paid truck has even banned orthodox followers from participating in any ceremonies at these other churches so this is very much a messy divorce this is what they had to say. look the church does not accept these decisions and will not follow them gives them is give them and its leaders are the l

one orthodox church in ukraine apart from the main one recognized officially as part of the moscow patriarchate there are also two other churches now they broke away in the early ninety's when ukraine got its independence from the u.s.s.r. this is the key of patriarchates and ukrainian autocephalous church these claim independence but they have never been recognized officially as official corrugations that's until very recently when the patriarch of constantinople made moves to give them that autonomy independence as well this is very much angered the moscow patriarch the process of granting autocephaly is artificial imposed from outside does not reflect internal ecclesiastical necessity will not bring real church unity will deepen division and intensify conflicts among the people of ukraine under these conditions the participation of the pesky pate clergy and laity of the you see in these process is is considered impossible and how is the russian orthodox church reacted well this is triggered a total breakdown in relations the moscow patriarchate has rejected this decision they've stated that

russian orthodox church react to look it's triggered a total breakdown in relations i mean the moscow patriarch has rejected it and they've said they've presided over key of the church since the seventeenth century it's even triggered a schism that means the churches have stopped their corporation and moscow has effectively told their followers not to participate in any weddings communions funerals with those other churches they are now effectively split the russian orthodox church does not accept these decisions and will not follow them schism is schism and its leaders are the leaders of the schism and the church that accepted the schism excluded from the canonical field of vision has been made to grow up to full communion with the constantinople patriarchate we cannot be in communication with this church which is in schism. ultimately is this going to have any effect on ordinary church goes well in the wider context this is seen as part of that conflict between russia and ukraine east and west historical cultural roots independence etc i mean tensions are running high since twenty fourteen wh

moves to give them that autonomy that independence as well this is very much angered the moscow patriarch the russian orthodox church doesn't accept these decisions and will not follow them schism is schism and its leaders are the leaders of the schism and the church that accepted the schism excluded itself from the economical field it decision has been made to rupture food communion with the constantinople patriarchate we cannot be in communication with this church which is in schism what about the everyday church goers were they in any way be affected or i think it's going to cause a lot of confusion and division i mean this is seen as a wider context as part of that conflict between russia and ukraine east and west those debates over independence and cultural heritage in the bigger picture here tensions have been rising since about twenty fourteen there have been dozens of attacks since then by ukrainian nationalists orthodox churches aligned with moscow they view them as enemies of ukraine as effectively tools of the kremlin in terms of church property there may be conflicts as well t

of the books shirts in ukraine apart from the main one recognized officially as part of the moscow patriarchate there are also two other churches now they broke away in the early ninety's when ukraine got its independence from the u.s.s.r. this is the key of patriarchates and ukrainian autocephalous church these claim independence but they have never been recognized officially as official corrugations that's until very recently when the patriarch of constantinople made moves to give them that autonomy independence as well this is very much angered the moscow patriarch the russian orthodox church doesn't accept these decisions and will not follow them schism is schism and its leaders are the leaders of the schism and the church that accepted the schism excluded itself from the economical field it decision has been made to rupture food communion with the constantinople patriarchate we cannot be in communication with this church which is in schism what about the everyday church goers were they in any way be affected or i think it's going to cause a lot of confusion and division i mean this is seen

independence and their autonomy from the king of church a decision that is very much angered the moscow patriarchate to say the least. the process of granting autocephaly is artificial imposed from outside does not reflect internal ecclesiastical necessity will not bring real church unity will deepen division and intensify conflicts among the people of ukraine under these conditions the participation of the pesky pate clergy and laity of the you see in these process is is considered impossible. was the reaction of the russian orthodox church being what it's for going to total breakdown between the russian church and the concerned local church the patriarch at has rejected this decision they've said they've had authority over the king of the church since about the seventeenth century and they have said that they're triggering a schism with the church they're banning their followers from attending any sort of congregation celebration ceremony with the church of constantin ople quite harsh words coming here let's take a listen the russian orthodox church does not accept these decisions and will not fol

property control the moscow patriarchate controls about twelve thousand churches across ukraine those two ukrainian churches who will perhaps be independent once they unite control about half that number so with ownership of churches with income revenue with followers seventy percent of ukraine being orthodox followers of course this carries a lot of symbolism of people and it's very likely to carry on causing a bit of confusion and division it complicated story thanks so much for helping to explain it to us many thanks daniel who can sit with me in the studio. and church history professor alexander dvorkin says ukraine's moves in his appeal will only make the country's divisions worse. operator worth all of you will never allow. it to exist whatever this new church will be the world will not be used for turkey and i still have my doubts that it will be full of fully independent polluter so full of us very soon there will be discrimination of those believers that would want to stay with the canonical church will increase of course they will try to take our property away from them i me