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>This week, Kyiv escalated a legal move to ban the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the nation’s largest Christian denomination, by associating it with Moscow and pushing for its dissolution in court. A stark move—one that raises alarms about religious freedom amid wartime politics
This isn't good, but the reality is complicated.
Catholics hold that there should be one universal church, headed by the Pope.
"Orthodox" Christians generally hold that each nation should have its own church.
There are currently three different major Christian churches in Ukraine.
About 10% are in the Ukrainian rite Catholic church, while follows "Eastern" liturgy, but recognizes the Pope as the head.
The others are in TWO DIFFERENT orthodox churches.
After Ukraine became independent with the collapse of the Soviet Union, some elements of the Ukrainian orthodox church, FOLLOWING ORTHODOX TRADITION, declared that they were an independent church.
Others stuck with following the hierarchy in Moscow, sort of.
EVEN those who "officially" have been following Moscow haven't entirely been doing that, and so the actions of the Ukraine government are disconcerting to anyone who cares about such things.