Orthodox Church Row Threatens US Aid to Ukraine

FILE - The Monastery of the Caves, also known as Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, one of the holiest sites of Eastern Orthodox Christians, is seen on March 23, 2023, in Kyiv, Ukraine. FILE - Hundreds of believers attend a church service on the Feast of the Intercession of the Virgin Mary in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra monastery, which is the headquarter of Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchy in Kiev on Oct. 14, 2018. FILE - People light candles in a church to mark the Orthodox Christmas in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra church in Kiev, Ukraine, Jan. 6, 2012. Faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which is accused of maintaining links with Russia, pray outside the historic monastery Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra on July 4, 2023.

Pending legislation in Ukraine aimed at preventing the Ukrainian Orthodox Church from becoming a conduit for Russian influence is attracting attention in the United States and is being used by some U.S. conservatives to paint Ukraine as hostile to religious freedom.