Ukraine-Russia Row: Tensions spill over as Ukraine's orthodox church cuts ties with Russia

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Europe

02:11

Tensions between Russia and Ukraine are now spilling into religion. Ukraine's orthodox church is breaking away from Russian jurisdiction. But the church's leaders in Moscow say they won't tolerate a split. As chief clergy on both sides stand firm, Ukrainians are gearing up for the first Christmas in more than 300 years not celebrated under Moscow's umbrella. CGTN's Stephanie Freid has this report.

Carol of the Bells. Usually mistaken as a classic English Christmas piece.

The real title is "Shchedryk"-it was arranged in the early 1900s by Ukraine composer Mykola Leontovych and it's meant to be a New Year greeting, which makes sense since Ukraine's Eastern Orthodox Christmas falls on January 7th - after the Gregorian New Year starts.

Ukraine Eastern Orthodoxy takes its lead from Russia - the Church has been under Russian Patriarchate control for centuries.

As part of the growing movement towards Ukrainian independence from Russia, the Orthodoxy council of Constantinople recently recognized Ukraine Church independence from Russia.

The cut means a loss for Russia of more than ten thousand Ukrainian parishioners - the Russian Patriarchate is comparing the split to the Great Schism of 1054 when Eastern Orthodoxy split from the Roman Catholic church.

ARCHPRIEST ANATOLIY CATHEDRAL OF NATIVITY (RUSSIA) "We will not recognize its legitimacy. This is not a council - this is a gang of bandits, who have gathered to do their work - take over temples and destroy the church. What kind of council is it?"

In protest over the decision, Russia's Orthodox Church cut ties with Constantinople.

Ukrainians are reveling in a surge of heritage-linked pride as, according to at least one Ukrainian lawmaker, they are freed of quote un-quote "Russian control over Ukrainian souls and minds".

Stephanie Freid, CGTN, Kiev, Ukraine.