Orthodox communities in Ukraine that have been under the aegis of the Moscow patriarchate are transferring their allegiance to the rival autonomous Ukrainian Orthodox Church, as the war with Russia heightens nationalist sentiments.
At least two bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) have instructed their priests to stop praying for Patriarch Kirill of Moscow in the sacred liturgy.
Until recently, Ukraine’s Orthodox faithful were divided into the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate), the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Kiev Patriarchate), and the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, with only the first canonically recognized by other Orthodox churches.