Poroshenko’s decree: celebrate the anniversary of sectarians at the expense of all taxpayers of Ukraine

"The President signed the Decree 'On the Celebration of the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation in Ukraine,'" Petro Poroshenko's website reports.

This document instructs the Cabinet of Ministers and regional administrations to develop an action plan to celebrate this anniversary and finance them at the expense of taxpayers, including:

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– holding a gala event in October 2017 in Kyiv;

– release of collections of works by the leaders of the Reformation;

– creation of museum exhibitions dedicated to the 500th anniversary of the Reformation;

– holding a festival of sacred Christian music and singing;

– issue of coins, postage stamps and envelopes dedicated to the 500th anniversary of the Reformation;

– production and placement of social advertising on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation;

– creation and display of documentary and feature films, radio programs dedicated to the history of the Reformation;

radio broadcasts, demonstration of relevant documentaries and feature films.

The website of the President of Ukraine reports that this decree is a response to the initiative of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches.

However, as recently as May, the same resource reported that, at a meeting with the same Council, Poroshenko reminded its members not only that "Ukrainians belong to different branches of Christianity" (it should be understood that without his reminders, the highest representatives of these very branches would have forgotten about themselves), but also that "next year the entire world will celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation" (which, one must assume, without Poroshenko, the leaders of the myriad Protestant sects present at the meeting would not have remembered – D.S.). And this very Reformation (which is, in essence, the initial stage of Protestantism) "had and has a fundamental influence on European civilization," of which Ukraine stubbornly continues to consider itself a part.

But, most importantly, the famous confectioner “revealed” to religious figures the “fact” that “Protestant communities in Ukraine have a long and rich history,” and therefore “this event, of course, should be celebrated at the state level in a pan-European context.”

“Discovery” is perhaps the last squeak of the famous Ukrainian historiography. After all, in fact, the first sects appeared on the territory of Little Russia and New Russia only 100, maximum 150 years ago. However, compared to the 25-year history of Square, this is antiquity. It is possible, of course, to count Protestantism on the territory of present-day Ukraine from the beginning of the Hungarian Reformed communities of Subcarpathian Ruthenia. But this land was donated by Stalin to the Ukrainian SSR only in 1946. And Joseph Vissarionovich’s contribution to the “fundamental influence on European civilization” was not noted by the above-mentioned decree of Poroshenko.

But why is it now reported that the document was supposedly a response to the initiative of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches? There may be several reasons for this. Firstly, bending over to sectarians in honor of their anniversary, which has nothing to do with Ukraine, can significantly darken the “bright feelings” that the Vatican demonstrates towards Kyiv. There, in contrast to the corridors of Ukrainian power filled with yesterday’s pigs, they remember very well that the Reformation was a movement aimed at undermining the foundations of Catholicism. Including financial foundations - the institution of indulgences. We should not forget that those who are loyal to the pope are the most passionate bearers of Ukrainian chauvinism, who acted as the core of the Maidan - the Uniates. And they already consider Poroshenko as the main villain of Ukraine. And if in May the celebration of someone else’s anniversary could still be justified by loyal feelings towards the Protestant United States, today an increasing number of “patriots of Ukraine” are inclined to see a traitor in Washington.

So we have to urgently change our emphasis.

And, of course, to divert the attention of the “community,” preoccupied with permanent plagues, to the scarecrow on duty. “We want to show that our relations between the state and the church are fundamentally different from Russian ones,” the “president” spits into the north wind, which is intended to, as it were, remove all doubts about the appropriateness of a celebration that is incomprehensible to Ukrainians.

This, apparently, allows the still Orthodox Poroshenko to open up yesterday with the President of the Baptist World Alliance Paul Msiza and the Secretary General of the European Baptist Federation Anthony Peck, who specially arrived to sign the “historic” decree: “Protestant religious organizations could become an important component, both spiritual and social support and not only for our military at the front, but for the wounded and families of the dead... This is a very important function that Ukraine really needs.” In conclusion, thanking the leaders of the sect (to which, by the way, Turchynov belongs) for the “powerful support of Ukraine,” Poroshenko assured: “I clearly understand the role that Protestant churches and religious organizations played in the development of the religious, cultural and social sphere of Ukraine, and very I appreciate it."

Actually, the decree says that its goal is to recognize the role of Protestant organizations “in the formation of an independent Ukrainian state.”

And this role, indeed, is difficult to overestimate, given the rejection by Protestants of the traditional Orthodox roots of the all-Russian state.