Why has the Orthodox Church a central role in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict?

The crisis in the Ukrainian church has led to a split in the “universal” Orthodox Church. The Russian Metropolitan Hilarion confirms this. The Egyptian Patriarch says: “May God forgive them.”

Just weeks before Russia goes to the ballot box in parliamentary elections, Russian Christians are making up their minds about whom to vote for. Contrary to what many Westerners would think, the choice is an easy one.

Tensions between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine have risen again in the past few weeks. The Russian church does not recognise the equal position of its Ukrainian counterpart. But the primary bishop of the Orthodox Churches, Patriarch Bartholomew, said last week that he "does not care" about the "ignorant behaviour" from the Russian part of the church.