Following a pattern we’ve seen before, the government of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ordered the closure of the ancient Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra monastery and the eviction of the monks and other religious figures who live there. Since that time, police have been stopping and inspecting every vehicle coming into or out of the complex. While some of the monks and nuns from the cave monastery have left, many more have refused, resulting in a standoff that continued today. One of the nuns was heard angrily yelling, “God will punish you, and others like you for playing with his will!” (Associated Press)

Orthodox monks who’ve been ordered out of a monastery in Kyiv refused to leave on Wednesday, as a deadline to vacate the complex expired.

The dispute over the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra monastery, Ukraine’s most revered Orthodox site, is part of a wider religious conflict playing out in parallel with the war.

The monks using the property belong to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which has been accused of links to Russia.

The Russian Orthodox Church has already been effectively iced out of Ukraine under Zelenski, and that process began before the invasion took place. Zelensky hasn’t been shy about silencing or “canceling” anyone who is perceived as being one of his critics. This applies to journalists, with several news outlets being closed after covering stories critical of his government. He also outlawed the opposition party and imprisoned one of his chief political opponents.

But this war against some of the churches in the country is on another level. Perhaps you could almost forgive Zelensky for going after the Russian Orthodox Church under the circumstances. But the Ukrainian Orthodox Church cut its ties with the ROC in every way they were capable of doing so. Even if some of the older members may still have relationships with people in Russia, it’s not as if they’re picking up rifles and shooting up Kyiv.

These are monks and nuns that we’re talking about. The Pechersk Lavra monastery, also known as the Monastery of the Caves, is nearly 1,000 years old. It’s among the holiest sites in Ukraine. And now Zelensky is shutting it down and “repossessing” it as “property of the state” over an alleged technicality in the lease.

Haven’t we been told repeatedly that we’re helping Ukraine fight Russia because it’s a bastion of democracy that must be saved? Isn’t one of the foundations of a democratic institution the freedom of religion? We have plenty of members of Congress (at least on one side of the aisle) that are constantly fighting against infringements on our freedom of religion. Are they okay with this guy closing down churches and putting monks and nuns out into the street? If it were proven that there are individuals inside of the church who are actively spying or fighting for the Russians, by all means, remove them. But that’s not what’s happening.

Yes, I understand that there is a war going on in Ukraine and it was not a war of their making. And bad things happen in war. But this isn’t the Russians doing this. It’s entirely Volodymyr Zelensky’s call. This doesn’t look very democratic to me.