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WCC members reveal to Orthodox Times: The role of the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine

July 18, 2026 · 1 min read

By Efi Efthymiou

Members of the World Council of Churches (WCC) delegation , who visited Kyiv in recent days, witnessed firsthand the political and ecclesiastical maneuvering taking place at the expense of Orthodox Ukrainians.

During their visit, the WCC representatives met with Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine , representatives of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations, government officials, and civilians living through the consequences of the ongoing war.

The delegation also requested a meeting with a representative of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church under Metropolitan Onufriy. Their request was granted, and they held talks with Metropolitan Meletiy of Chernivtsi and Bukovina.

According to sources of orthodoxtimes.com with knowledge of the discussions, Metropolitan Meletiy left no room for misunderstanding regarding the role and position of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

He unequivocally condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and firmly stated that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has severed all ties with the Patriarchate of Moscow.

“They have killed members of our flock and our priests. Most of the churches they are bombing…

Source: Orthodox Times · Read the full story →

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💬 Comments (15) 🌐 Show original

Łukasz Kowalski

It's hard for me to read this without getting anxious. Metropolitan Meletiy says directly that their priests and faithful are killed, and at the same time emphasizes the break with Moscow - I wonder what it looks like in practice in parishes in the east. I pray for all those affected, regardless of jurisdiction.

Karolina Nowak

It's hard for me to disagree with that, Łukasz. In the east, many UOC parishes still pray in Church Slavonic and do not want to hear about Epiphany, so this "break" looks different depending on the place. I pray that bishops do not mix politics with the altar because ordinary people suffer.

I agree, Karolina, that in practice this "break" varies - I know people from Bukovina who still use Church Slavonic and do not want to hear about Epifania. The worst thing is that ordinary believers are left in the middle of this confusion, yet they come to the church to pray and not discuss politics. You pray for the bishops - I do too, especially for those who meet with such delegations.

Anna Nowak

I agree, Karolina, that in the East this "break" is very different in practice - I heard from a friend from the Czernowitz area that in their parish everything is still in the Church Slavonic style and no one wants to talk about Epiphany. The most important thing is that bishops really care about the altar, and not about what is happening in Kiev or Moscow, because ordinary people come to pray, not to choose sides.

Dorota Wiśniewska

I agree that in the East this "breakup" often looks only on paper - at my aunt's near Chocim they still sing in Church Slavonic and no one wants to hear about Epifania. The most important thing is for the parish priest to ensure that people can pray peacefully, and not to involve them in all these disputes. How long do you think it will take for this to really change in parishes?

Michał Kaczmarek

I agree, Karolina, that in the East this break is often only on paper - in our store I talked to a woman from Bukovina who said exactly the same about Church Slavonic and the aversion to Epiphany. I pray that eventually ordinary people will be able to just come to the liturgy without all this fuss. Do you think this can be resolved somehow calmly at the parish level?

Andrzej Wiśniewski

I agree, Ania, that in the East people stick to what they have known for years. My friend from near Hajnówka told me that when she went to visit her relatives near Czernowitz, everything in the local church was still the same, and no one mentioned politics. The most important thing is for the parish priest to take care of prayer, because the rest will fall into place anyway.

Agnieszka Kaczmarek

I agree, Andrzej, in Hajnówka many older parishioners also say that the most important thing is that the parish priest conducts services well and does not mix politics with the sermon. My neighbor from Bukovina told exactly the same thing - in the church near Chernivtsi they prayed in the old way, without talking about Moscow or Kiev. And how is it in your parish, the parish priest avoids these topics?

Mateusz Nowak

In my Hajnówka parish, the parish priest also sticks to the liturgy and avoids politics, for which I thank him. But this news about Metropolitan Melety of Chernivtsi makes me wonder - if he says that they broke with Moscow, I wonder what the older parishioners in his eparchy who remember different times think about it. And your neighbor from Bukowina still goes there?

Maria Zielińska

I agree, Michał, that in Bukowina it is often just a formality - this woman from Bukovina you are writing about is probably right about the language and distrust towards Epifania. An old lady from the Lviv area also comes to our store and says that in their parish they still sing everything in Church Slavonic and no one wants to hear about changes. Do you think that bishops could somehow regulate this from above, or does everything really have to start with ordinary people on the spot?

Adam Nowak

It was similar with my friend from Winnica - on paper they were separated, but in the church there are still old songs and no one remembers Epifaniya. I think that this will change in parishes only when a new generation of priests enters and people want it themselves, not because of orders. How long will it take? Probably ten or fifteen years, if not longer.

Magdalena Zielińska

I agree, Łukasz, that ordinary people just want to pray in peace and not choose between bishops. I know an elderly lady from a parish in Podlasie who says that for her the most important thing is that the bread during the liturgy is baked properly and that no one disturbs the prayer. Do you think that such meetings between delegations and metropolitans will really change something for the faithful in Bukovina?

I agree, ordinary people really just want to pray peacefully, without politics. This old lady from Podlasie is right - in our choir I also hear that good prosphora and silence in the church are important. Do you think that after such a meeting with the WCC delegation, Metropolitan Meletiy will change something in practice in Bukovina, or will it only remain on paper?

I agree, Dorota, in our town in Hajnówka, the older ladies in the choir also repeat that the most important thing is that the prosphora is well-baked and that no one brings politics under the dome. As for Metropolitan Meletiya - I doubt that after one meeting with WCC, anything will change in practice in Bukovina, because the parishes there have been living at their own rhythm for years. Do you think these talks in Kiev will reach ordinary believers at all?

Jan Szymański

Agnieszka, in our parish in Gdańsk, grandmothers also repeat over and over again that the prosphora must be equal and warm, and politics should be left at the door. As for Bukovina, Meletiy could actually say whatever he wanted, but the local villages and old churches have been going at their own pace for generations. Do you think that ordinary believers even read such reports from Kiev?