Ukraine has stepped up its criticism of the Russian Orthodox Church, with a senior official calling for it to be expelled from the World Council of Churches (WCC) over its stance on the war.
Speaking at a seminar organised by the Collège des Bernardins research centre in France, the head of Ukraine's State Service for Freedom of Conscience, Viktor Yelensky, said the organisation should "exclude the Russian Church from membership since its activities directly contradict the fundamental principles of Christianity".
He continued: “The Moscow Patriarchate is an enemy of both religious freedom and Ukraine. It aims at suppressing the worthy expression of religious freedom and at destroying Ukrainian statehood, culture, and identity.”
He added it was “absolutely legitimate” to discuss sanctions against Patriarch Kirill, as well as against other clergy who “glorified war” and conducted what the Patriarch describes as “subversive work” in Western countries.
The appeal follows a fresh wave of Russian attacks that killed at least 22 civilians, with Ukrainian religious leaders claiming the Church is helping to support the Kremlin’s actions.
Ukraine’s Council of Churches and Religious Organisations also condemned recent Russian attacks, saying: “These bloody crimes are being committed by Russian invaders of Ukrainian soil with the active support of the Moscow Patriarchate, an integral part of the criminal Kremlin regime,” and adding: “A clear voice in support for Ukraine — and condemnation of evil — from governments, churches, and non-governmental organisations, intelligentsia, and ordinary people is now extremely important.”
The council, which represents 356 member denominations and about 580 million Christians worldwide, has faced calls to expel the Russian church from the organisation since the conflict began in 2022. At the time, Anglican, Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Protestant leaders from 15 countries signed a petition, including the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Williams, with the same request.
But the World Council of Churches rejected the proposal in June 2022, saying it “acknowledged and welcomed” the Moscow Patriarchate’s commitment “to engage in encounter and dialogue under WCC auspices”.
In April 2024, the WCC’s general secretary, Rev Professor Jerry Pillay, said the organisation was “seeking clarifications” after Patriarch Kirill backed a statement describing the war as a “holy war” against the West, which he said had “fallen into Satanism”.The council has not said whether it has received a response from Patriarch Kirill.
This week, Professor Pillay said he deplored what he called the latest “deadly cycle of violence” and called for peace based on “respect for international law and fundamental moral precepts”.