The Ukrainian Orthodox Church (OCU) has come under fire for its decision to rename a church in Kyiv after a saint recognized by both the Russian Orthodox Church and the Ukrainian church it seeks to replace.
Among the images singled out by critics was a revered icon of Tsar Nicholas II and his family. The last Russian emperor, his wife, and their children were brutally executed by the Bolsheviks in 1918. Their tragic fate has become a powerful symbol of martyrdom for many in the Orthodox faith.
The saint after whom the OCU wants to rename the church is Agapetus of Pechersk. This revered figure is recognized as a saint by both the Russian Orthodox Church and the Ukrainian church, highlighting the controversy surrounding the OCU's decision.
