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Kyiv's church question before 14 October 2018
Summary
A look back at the church dispute between Ukraine and Russia as it stood on 14 October 2018.
What was at stake for Ukraine and Russia in the church dispute as of 14 October 2018? The days before that date had brought a decisive step.
On 11 October 2018, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople announced plans to recognise the autocephaly of two Ukrainian Orthodox Churches. Ukrainian leaders welcomed the move. The Russian Orthodox Church denounced it as "catastrophic".
The announcement came amid a wider rift that was already being described as the Schism of 2018, and it fed directly into the strained relations between Russia and Ukraine.
By 14 October 2018, the two sides had taken opposing positions: Ukrainian leaders were welcoming the plan, while the Russian Orthodox Church was condemning it in the strongest terms.
