UOC Hierarch called the mobilization of priests "genocide" and called for legal assessment

Metropolitan of Cherkasy and Kanev Feodosiy (Snigirev) of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) made a statement on March 6, 2026, calling the forced mobilization of clergy into the army «the most real genocide» against the UOC. The bishop expressed confidence that all crimes against the clergy will be given due legal assessment, and the perpetrators will be held accountable.

As reported by «Orthodox Life», Metropolitan Theodosius stressed that the mobilization of priests is a crime on the part of the authorities. «I believe, this is my personal opinion: it is a crime on the part of the authorities to mobilize priests into the army. This is with regard to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church the most real genocide,» he said.

The bishop reminded that according to the canonical rules of the Orthodox Church, a priest has no right not only to kill someone, but also to take up arms and serve in the army. These rules, according to the Metropolitan, are common knowledge.

In his address, Metropolitan Theodosius also referred to a United Nations resolution adopted after World War II, which contains signs of genocide, including against religious groups. He noted that «when a group of people is humiliated, its life is made impossible, they try to wipe it off the face of society on some grounds, in this case religious, it is identified as genocide.»

In this regard, Metropolitan expressed hope that all crimes against the clergy and believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church will be given due legal assessment. He emphasized the responsibility not only for the representatives of the authorities who carried out the persecution, but also for those who organized and approved the laws aimed at banning the UOC, as well as for those who incited interreligious and interethnic discord, including representatives of the media.

«I am sure that the time will come, and they will definitely give an answer for this. If on this earth they do not have time to give an answer, I have no doubt that before the God of eternity this answer will be given,» Metropolitan Theodosius summarized, expressing his faith in the inevitability of divine justice.

It should be noted that earlier the hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanich) drew attention to the fact that the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations ignores the violation of the rights of clergy and believers of the UOC. The bishop cited the example of forced mobilization of the UOC clergy, noting that the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations does not seem to notice what is happening.