The film “Ukraine’s Journey to Church Independence” (“Canonical” in
Ukrainian) is a reflection on the difficult journey to Ukrainian church
independence.
There is a lot of history in this film. It helped the
author, and, hopefully, will help the viewer to see, beyond the news of
the previous year, one of the most important events for Ukrainian
Orthodoxy and for the Orthodox world as a whole. Key storytellers in
this work are historians and theologians, and other experts who do not
jump to hasty conclusions.
During the work on this film, our group visited Istanbul twice, we
traveled to Moscow, and traveled through Ukraine. Stories of ordinary
parishioners from rural communities are especially precious to me. It
was impressive that people from distant parishes are much more tolerant
than their church mentors and politicians.
Separately, I wanted to show the beauty of the church in this film.
After going through centuries of very difficult history at times, the
church remains the guardian of collective spiritual memory and culture.
The beauty of worship, prayers and chants will delight connoisseurs.
Those who stay away from religion will be shown the way to a new vast
world, which is much wider than politics and short-term interests.
The work turned out unrushed. But how can a short story suffice for
what began at the end of the tenth century and still sees no end in
sight.
I wish you all a pleasant viewing.
/By Saken Aymurzaev
/Translated into English by Natalie Vikhrov
en.hromadske.ua