In recent months, there has been a confrontation between the Ukrainian state and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, led by Metropolitan Onufriy. In particular, this has manifested itself in attempts by the State Service of Ukraine on Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) to ban the Kyiv Metropolis of the UOC for its affiliation with the Church in the aggressor state.
The Sofia Brotherhood and the Viche channel are actively working to establish dialogue in this area. One form of such communication is round tables, the latest of which took place on September 17., 2025 in the Sofia cathedral in Kyiv and which has already been reported on our website.
Another format is online dialogues, to which host Ilona Sokolovski often invites Sergii Bortnyk, head of the Academic Initiative Foundation, as an expert and representative of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Over the past 1,5 month, three such conversations have taken place, with various representatives of Ukraine’s religious community participating as partners in the discussion.
On August 11., 2025, a discussion entitled “The Trial of Ukrainian Orthodoxy: Holiness or Loyalty?” took place with the participation of Sergii Bortnyk and Archpriest Vyacheslav Rubsky. It can be viewed here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gBW8q3pSjg
On August 29., 2025, a discussion entitled “The Exarchate for Ukrainian Orthodoxy: an ambulance or new crack?” took place with the participation of Sergii Bortnyk and Lyudmyla Fylypovych. It can be viewed here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQ1iPjhrnGw.
On September 24., 2025, a discussion entitled “The Shadows of Kyriarchal Autocephaly” took place with the participation of Sergii Bortnyk and Archpriest Rostyslav Khrupchyk. It can be viewed here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tf2exfwA_aA.
