THE LAW OF UKRAINE “ON THE PROTECTION OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL ORDER IN THE FIELD OF RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS” (2024): POLITICAL AND LEGAL GROUNDS FOR ADOPTION AND POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES FOR ORTHODOX CHURCHES IN UKRAINE

Abstract

The article analyzes the state of Ukrainian Orthodoxy and the ways to overcome the split and prospects for the unification of churches. The importance of protecting their spiritual independence is explained. The key provisions and regulations of the Law of Ukraine “On the Protection of the Constitutional Order in the Field of Religious Organizations” of August 20, 2024, No. 3894-IX are analyzed. The author expresses his views on the strengths and weaknesses of the adopted law and the prospects for its implementation. The author focuses on the religious organization of the UOC (MP), which, according to the overwhelming majority of society, should be on the list of structures associated with the Russian orthodox church, but according to the analyzed law, is an affiliated structure and therefore should be banned. Given the wide public response to the UOC (MP), the article extensively examines the activities of this religious organization, its charter and other official documents. It is shown that the influence on society, as well as the entire policy of the UOC (MP), depends on the governing center. It is proved that the UOC (MP) is still dependent on the Russian orthodox church and is its structural unit. The ways out of the stalemate in which the UOC (MP) has found itself after the adoption of the law are considered. The dilemma of combining the change of administrative subordination and the implementation of canon law in the UOC (MP) is resolved. An attempt is made to explain why it is so difficult for the UOC (MP) to break canonical ties with the Moscow patriarchate. The author shows the influence of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the OCU on the distribution of forces in Ukrainian Orthodoxy, and reveals the role of the Tomos in the process of uniting the Orthodox.