Part of the “Thoughts Aloud” mini-series created jointly by the “Sofia Brotherhood” and the German foundation Renovabis, within the project “Contemporary Ukrainian Orthodoxy: Breaking Myths for Reconciliation and Societal Consolidation.” Statements do not necessarily represent the official view of the Sofia Brotherhood.
Fr. Heorhii Khodun, priest of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (Sumy region)
Modern-day Ukraine is not only a battlefield for territorial integrity — it is also an arena of competing internal spiritual identities. Amid unprecedented challenges, when each day brings new trials, society expects unity, support, and moral leadership from its religious institutions. Yet the reality, particularly within the Orthodox environment, is far from ideal. We often witness internal disputes, mutual accusations, and jurisdictional power struggles — rather than unified support and shared ministry. And this is happening precisely when members of other Christian denominations — Catholics, Greek Catholics, Protestants — are offering clear examples of solidarity and aid.
For years, the situation in Ukrainian Orthodoxy has resembled a stormy sea. With the Orthodox Church of Ukraine receiving the Tomos of autocephaly in 2019, the conflict between the UOC (which maintains ties to the Moscow Patriarchate) and the OCU has only deepened. Rather than seeking paths toward understanding and focusing on service to the people, churches too often become entangled in canonical disputes, court battles over church buildings, and public accusations. Debates about which branch of Orthodoxy is more “legitimate” or “canonical” obscure the Gospel principles of love and mercy. These internal quarrels drain colossal resources — human, financial, and intellectual — that could be redirected toward real help for those in need. This is especially painful when we see how other denominations, long regarded with distrust or even hostility by traditional Orthodox circles, are now those who effectively act, assist, and support the suffering.
Moreover, the aid provided by Roman Catholics, Greek Catholics, and Protestants is not just a series of sporadic acts of goodwill. It often represents systematic, strategic work, built on decades-old networks, efficient organizational structures, and a clear understanding of people’s needs. These are not isolated efforts or accidental individual initiatives, but the result of coordinated actions that enable efficient resource allocation, organized response, and sustainable support over the long term. It is this blend of sincere compassion and professional planning that makes these communities so influential and indispensable on Ukraine’s humanitarian front.
This example compels us to reflect on the strategy of Ukrainian Orthodoxy. Instead of focusing solely on internal debates over canonicity and historical grievances, should both branches — the UOC and the OCU — not adopt a similarly strategic approach to social ministry? Only by building strong, transparent, and effective structures capable of systematically responding to societal challenges will the Churches not only preserve but also grow their moral authority and the trust of the faithful — and perhaps even find common ground with one another. This means moving beyond one-time actions and shifting toward long-term planning, collaboration, and meaningful integration into public life, demonstrating faith not just through words but through tangible works, carried out with clear intent and focused execution.
These thoughts are not a call for uniformity or the renunciation of identity. They are a call to reexamine our priorities. At a time when millions of Ukrainians are suffering, when the nation’s very existence is under threat, should not Gospel love prevail over canonical disputes? Should not mercy outweigh “correctness”?
Perhaps the experience of solidarity and service demonstrated by other Christian confessions should become a lesson for the Orthodox Churches in Ukraine — a lesson that true faith is not revealed in endless jurisdictional debates, but in effective love for one’s neighbor, in the ability to transcend petty differences for a common purpose: to help our people and defend the truth. For while we argue over who is “more Orthodox,” others simply go and help — embodying Christ’s commandments through action.