by Vladimir Rozanskij

Ongoing fighting between Ukrainian and rebel forces is compounded by divisions and clashes among Orthodox Christians and Churches tied to Moscow, Kyiv and Constantinople, as well as Greek and Latin Catholics loyal to the pope of Rome. In one of Europe's most Christian nations, such "metaphysical parochialism" sees bishops and priests bless their "own" militias and cannons.

Moscow (AsiaNews) - At such a tragic time, international diplomacy has been working on ways to stop the war between Ukraine and Russia, or at least prevent it from turning into a global, hot or cold, war between East and West in the heart of Europe (indeed, some claim that the geographical centre of Europe is in the Ukraine).

At the same time, unconfirmed reports are filtering out, with stories of clashes, bombings, light skirmishes and actual invasions in towns forgotten by history, places like Sloviansk (Slavyansk) and Debal'tseve (Debaltsevo), not far from Donetsk or Mariupol, that few in the Ukraine or Russia could ever hope to find on a map of Novorossija (lit. New Russia), that sparsely populated place in the south covered by endless prairies that once upon a time the Russian Empire had tried to settle with Jews, Germans or Poles in order to keep them away from the trading centres of central Russia.

Even so, the rivalry in such lands among religious groups is even more shocking that the actual fighting. Recently, Pope Francis issued an urgent appeal from Rome to stop the "war between Christians". However, in this part of the world, war is much more complicated. Atavistic and merciless, it does not only pit Christians from various confessions against each other; it has driven a wedge between people in the same parish, priests in the same diocese, and relatives in the same family. It is not a civil war or a confessional war; it is the triumph of a certain metaphysical parochialism, an even more atomised throwback to the battles between Assisi and Perugia that saw Saint Francis taken prisoner in the late Middle Ages.

The constant changes in ecclesiastical jurisdiction, sometimes on a weekly basis, in certain parishes or entire sections of the Churches in question is particularly amazing. This happens on a regular basis elsewhere, especially in Protestant countries, given their lack of real hierarchies. However, this should not occur in the Ukraine, where such entities, by their very nature, ought to be practically unchangeable.

However, the very precariousness of more "traditional" Christianity constitutes the main genetic trait of the country called "Ukraine," a nation that lacks a single ethnic, geographic or political identity. Over the centuries, Ukraine's neighbours have fought over it. Its Christian religion, which has held it together, reflects all the divisions found in its neighbours.

Despite such cleavages, Ukraine is not a multi-confessional nation. Out of 45 million people, non-Christians are a tiny minority. Islam or Asian religions are not making any inroads, and its once large Jewish communities have disappeared. Indeed, it is from the Ukraine that Jewish colonists set out to create the modern State of Israel.

This makes the Ukraine one of Europe's most Christian countries, with an abundance of churches and monasteries that have flourished for the past 20 years after a long period of persecution under Bolshevik atheism.

The country belongs to the Byzantine Orthodox tradition, which is however incredibly fragmented. The three major denominations are the pro-Moscow Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, the pro-Kyiv Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Patriarchate of Kyiv and the pro-Constantinople Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church. In addition, there is a Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, loyal to Rome, which considers itself as the sole heir to the Eastern tradition.

In principle, Ukraine has been divided up according to denomination: pro-Russians control the east, the Greek Catholics dominate in the west, and autonomists hold the centre. However, in reality they are all competing in every region, generating sub-schisms and divisions at every corner.

Masking grudging hatred and distrust, members of the top hierarchy in the various Churches have issued repeated calls for national reconciliation, occasionally accusing each other of being responsible for hostilities and unrest. In the eyes of the population, they lack credibility, not so much in personal terms, but as pastors vis-à-vis their flock.

For years, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow has been trying to keep together all the parts of "Greater Russia," in the post-Soviet space as well as among migrants in the world beyond. Metropolitan Onufry, who is in communion with the Russian Church, has yet to demonstrate his independence. A survivor from Soviet times, the elderly Patriarch Filaret wants to remain above the fray, whilst Pope Francis himself still has to prove that he can lead Greek and Latin Catholics, who appear more interested in local issues than in the universal communion.

In the villages, towns and cities of this land, the credibility of the various Churches has melted away, like snow in springtime. Whilst some clergymen try to preach peace and mercy, some bishops and priests choose instead to bless cannons and pray only for "their" militias. Even families are sharply divided.

Various attempts have been made to overcome divisions and create a single, autonomous Ukrainian Orthodox Church, but so far with no results.

In the meantime, the "holy war" continues, like a crusade between Christians dressed like Cossacks, whose final aim is not the Holy Land of the Crimea or the Donbass, not even Majdan Square in Kyiv or L'viv's cathedral. Ukraine's Christians are fighting for universal supremacy, for the Third Rome of the spirit, whose geography is but a marginal detail.

• ukraine
• russia
• invasion
• war
• christians
• churches
• divisions