17.10.2018
The attitude of Ukrainians to the creation of the Unified Local Church
- According to a study conducted by the Rating Group, 54% of respondents view positively the idea of establishing a Unified Local (Autocephalous) Church in Ukraine. Nineteen percent hold an opposing view, while another 19% express indifference toward this issue.
- Support for the idea of a Unified Local Church is highest in Western Ukraine (68%) and in the Central regions (58%). At the same time, in the South at least 45% support this initiative, while in the East the share of supporters stands at 37%. It should be noted that in the southern and eastern regions, unlike other parts of Ukraine, there is a relatively higher proportion of respondents who are either indifferent or negative toward this topic—around one quarter in each category.
- The idea of a Local Church enjoys particularly strong support among the oldest respondents (61%). Among young people, support stands at about 45%, and among middle-aged respondents at 51%. In terms of religious affiliation, the highest level of support for autocephaly is found among parishioners of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Kyiv Patriarchate). In both of these groups, support for the idea of a Unified Local Church exceeds 75%. Among adherents of other denominations, about half support the idea. Among those who consider themselves believers but do not associate with any denomination, support stands at 43%, while among non-believers it is 29%. The strongest opposition to the idea of a Local Church is found among parishioners of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate), where more than half express a negative attitude. Nevertheless, nearly one third of this group (28%) still view autocephaly positively.
- Overall, 36% of respondents believe that the creation of a Unified Local Church would rather unite the country, while 23% say that this initiative would have no impact on social consolidation. At the same time, 24% warn of a possible societal split. Concerns about division following the granting of autocephaly are most common in the East (34%) and among parishioners of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) (57%). In most other regional, age, and confessional groups, however, those who believe that the creation of a Local Church would unite the country outnumber those who hold the opposite view.
- Thirty percent of all respondents believe that Patriarch Filaret of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Kyiv Patriarchate) should head the Unified Local Church. Seven percent believe that Metropolitan Onufrii of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) should assume this role, while 3% favor Metropolitan Makarii of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church. Eleven percent believe that none of these figures should lead the Local Church, and 42% have not yet formed an opinion on this issue. Among those who support the creation of a Unified Local Church, preferences regarding potential leaders are similar: Patriarch Filaret is supported by 50%, Metropolitan Onufrii by 5%, and Metropolitan Makarii by 4%. One third of this group has not yet decided who should become the head of the Unified Local Church.
- As a potential leader of the Unified Local Church, Patriarch Filaret enjoys the greatest support among parishioners of the church he leads (57%). His support is somewhat lower among adherents of other denominations: 31% among Greek Catholics, 21% among members of other denominations, and 20% among believers without a specific confessional affiliation. Among parishioners of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate), Metropolitan Onufrii is more often seen as the appropriate leader of a Unified Local Church (29%). At the same time, one in ten respondents in this group would not object to Patriarch Filaret heading the Local Church after autocephaly is granted.
- Thirty-four percent of respondents trust Pope Francis (16% do not trust him). Thirty percent trust Patriarch Filaret (17% do not trust him). Twenty percent trust Bartholomew I, the head of the Ecumenical Patriarchate (13% do not trust him). Nineteen percent trust Archbishop Sviatoslav, the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (12% do not trust him). Sixteen percent trust Metropolitan Onufrii, the primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) (28% do not trust him). Thirteen percent trust Metropolitan Makarii, the primate of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (12% do not trust him). Only 13% trust Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church, while 37% do not trust him.
- Pope Francis, Patriarch Filaret, Bartholomew I, Archbishop Sviatoslav, and Metropolitan Makarii enjoy the highest levels of trust in Western Ukraine. Metropolitan Onufrii has relatively higher levels of trust in the South, while Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church is more trusted in the South and East. Church leaders generally enjoy higher levels of trust among older respondents.
- It should also be noted that some church leaders enjoy respect among adherents of denominations other than those they lead. For example, Pope Francis, in addition to his high level of trust among Greek Catholics, also enjoys high trust among parishioners of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Kyiv Patriarchate). Patriarch Filaret is viewed positively by supporters of both the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Kyiv Patriarchate) and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. A similar pattern applies to Bartholomew I. Archbishop Sviatoslav enjoys relatively high levels of trust among parishioners of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Kyiv Patriarchate), while Metropolitan Makarii is trusted among members of both the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Kyiv Patriarchate) and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. In contrast, Metropolitan Onufrii and Patriarch Kirill enjoy relatively higher levels of trust exclusively among parishioners of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate).
Methodology
- Audience: residents of Ukraine aged 18 and older. The sample is representative in terms of age, gender, region, and settlement type.
- Total sample: 2000 respondents.
- Personal formalized interview (face-to-face).
- The margin of error does not exceed 2.2%.
- Fieldwork dates: 27 September – 4 October, 2018
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