AFU Song and Dance Ensemble takes part in OCU Dormition “service” at Lavra

The AFU Song and Dance Ensemble at the Dormition Cathedral. Photo: OCU

On August 15, 2026, OCU head Serhiy Dumenko led a festive “service” for the Dormition of the Mother of God according to the new calendar. The event took place at the Dormition Cathedral of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.

A notable feature of the event was the participation of the Honored Academic Song and Dance Ensemble of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, led by its staff conductor Tiberiy Yatskulynets. Positioned in the cathedral’s choir loft, the military ensemble served as the liturgical choir.

The situation drew comments on social media. UOC-KP cleric Yaroslav Yasenets said he believes Dumenko’s structure has effectively become a state church.

“Am I understanding this correctly – a military choir is singing at Epifaniy’s service in the Lavra? So servicemen, who receive salaries from the state paid out of taxpayers’ money – including the money of UOC believers – are singing at the service of one particular religious figure?” Yasenets asked.

In his view, the OCU is simply copying a practice that exists in the Russian Church. “Yet another proof that the OCU is the same ROC, only smaller,” he wrote.

Archbishop Jonah of Obukhiv expressed a similar view. “Merely aping the ROC step by step. It’s actually funny,” the hierarch wrote.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the OCU showed how many people attended its Transfiguration service at the seized St. Volodymyr Cathedral.

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