The creation of a new body echoes old hostilities.
Ukraine
The history and myths that made Russia
How did Russia's longstanding sense of grievance morph into a civil religion?
The unrest in Ukraine has led to calls to establish a national church. But which church should play this uniting role?
The Orthodox Church aligns itself closely with the government. Yet its leaders have also offered some help to movements that challenge the status quo.
The best outcome of the tensions in Ukraine would allow the country to develop its unique role as a bridge between languages and cultures.
Sunday Adelaja's story sounds like the start of a bad joke: "Did you hear about the African who tried to start a church in the Soviet Union?"