RUSSIA RELIGION NEWS

Sociological survey depicts Ukrainians' feelings about church leaders

UKRAINIANS HAVE A NEGATIVE BALANCE OF TRUST-DISTRUST ONLY WITH REGARD TO PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW KIRILL—STUDY

RISU, 2 February 2022

This is what is shown by the data of a study by the Razumkov Center, "Religion and Church in Ukrainian Society: 2000-2021."

The study shows that among the top hierarchs of churches of Ukraine and among the churches directly involved in the religious-church situation in Ukraine, the Metropolitan of Kiev and all-Ukraine Epifany has the highest level of trust. He is trusted by 50% of respondents and distrusted by only 15%. In comparison with 2019, the proportion of those who trust him grew by 11%.

Metropolitan of Kiev and all-Ukraine Onufry [Moscow patriarchate] is trusted by 33.5% of those questioned, and 28.5% do not trust him.

For Patriarch of Kiev and all-Rus-Ukraine Filaret [UPTsKP], the figures are 35% and 20% respectively.

For Major Archbishop of Kiev and Halych Sviatoslav Shevchuk [Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church],  they are 36% and 12.5% respectively.

For Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, 33% and 15% respectively.

For Roman Pope Francis, 42% and 15% respectively.

There is a negative balance of trust-distrust only with regard to Patriarch of Moscow and all-Rus Kirill. The level of trust in him fell from 38% in "pre-war" 2013 to a current 19% and the level of distrust grew from 25% to 42%.

A study of the dynamic of this indicator shows that the main factor in the decline of trust toward him is the open support by the Moscow patriarchate and by the patriarch personally for Russia's actions of aggression toward Ukraine. It should be noted that residents of the eastern region manifest a lower level of trust toward all of the aforementioned hierarchs. The highest level of trust there is for the primates of the PTsU [Orthodox Church of Ukraine] and the UPTsMP [Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate] at 28% for each. (tr. by PDS, posted 2 February 2022)

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