The Oberigucranians association, residing in the Canary Islands – with a population of about five thousand in Tenerife, the majority located in the southern part of the island – has reported that the construction of the Orthodox temple in La Caleta, Adeje, is allegedly under the influence of Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Church, who is accused of promoting the Satanism of the Ukrainians. Dmytro Shatruk, the spokesperson for Oberig, a Tenerife resident for the past 15 years, emphasized that the church is purportedly linked to the KGB (Soviet intelligence agency). Consequently, they have urged the Adeje City Council to halt the construction. Municipal sources, however, have stated that they are unable to intervene as long as no illegality is involved, and the completion of the work meets the necessary regulations.
Shatruk emphasised that the Russian Orthodox Church is reportedly intimidating Ukrainians, with Kiev having severed ties with Moscow after being outlawed by the Ukrainian Parliament on October 19. He highlighted the well-known alliance between Patriarch Kirill and Putin, asserting that “the patriarch is prohibited from entering Europe.” Shatruk also claimed that the church in Callao Salvaje does not function as a place of worship and neglects the teachings of “Jesus loves his neighbour,” alleging that it operates as an embassy of the Russian Federation, with the collaboration of the KGB. He further denounced that Ukraine needs to be liberated from the alleged satanism propagated by the church.
Describing the ongoing conflict between the Ukrainian and Russian churches as akin to a “Holy War of the year 1100,” Shatruk asserted that the Russian Orthodox Church has formed its own army, referred to as Saint Andrew or Wagner, which, backed by Patriarch Kirill, is purportedly engaging in military actions in Ukraine. Shatruk expressed concern that individuals attending the Russian church in Tenerife are pro-Russian and supportive of Putin’s imperialism. He warned that if left unchecked, the situation could escalate similarly to the Second World War, with further invasions justified by allegations of satanism, alongside an information and propaganda war facilitated through the Tenerife church. Shatruk drew parallels to Stalin’s actions in 1942, when he exerted control over the Russian Orthodox Church. DIARIO DE AVISOS attempted to reach the Orthodox parish priest of Tenerife, Vasily Fedik, for comment, but unfortunately was unsuccessful.
The Temple
The first Orthodox Church in the Canary Islands, located in Adeje, has completed its structure after nearly two years of construction. Its striking gold-adorned domes and completed bell towers stand tall in the La Enramada area of La Caleta de Adeje, serving as a source of pride for numerous Slavs who adhere to Orthodox Christianity, despite deep divisions caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Boris Portnykh, the secretary of parish priest Vasily Fedik, acknowledged that while not all residents from the former Soviet Union countries profess Orthodoxy, the church could cater to the approximately 12,000 Russian speakers who reside, either permanently or for extended periods, in the south of Tenerife. The sizeable community of former Soviet Union residents wields significant purchasing power and has financially supported the construction of the temple in La Caleta, expressing gratitude to the Adeje City Council for their support.
The temple, spanning about 2,400 square meters, comprises two structures: the temple itself and a sociocultural centre, surrounded by gardens and tree-lined areas. The architectural design was initially overseen by the architect Jorge Mosquera Panyagua. If completed this year, it would add to the existing three Orthodox churches in Spain, with two others in Estepona and Tenerife and a sixth planned in La Nucía (Murcia), according to Tenerife historian Sergio Pou.
During the laying of the first stone in August 2019, the Orthodox Archbishop of Madrid and Lisbon, Néstor Sirotenko, expressed gratitude to Mayor José Miguel Rodríguez Fraga for his support. He also requested that the street leading to the temple be named after the Orthodox saint Saint John of Shanghai and Saint Francis. Their charitable fund has contributed to the considerable investment in the construction of the temple, despite the current religious and political controversy surrounding it, raised by the Ukrainian community in the Canary Islands.
Callao Salvaje Church
While awaiting the completion of their own temple, Tenerife’s parishioners continue to utilise a Catholic church on Jable Avenue in Callao Salvaje. Religious services are held on Saturdays (4:30 p.m.) and Sundays (8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.). Vasiliy Fedik, the parish priest, serves the main centre in Tenerife and assists the emerging community in Gran Canaria.
Additionally, religious services are carried out at the hermitage of San Sebastián in La Caleta, close to the Orthodox temple, despite the suspicions raised by the Ukrainian community. This local situation takes place as the second anniversary of the start of the Russian invasion in Ukraine approaches, a conflict that has led to Ukrainian refugees seeking shelter on the island.
