Metropolitan Theodosius of Cherkasy tells Serbian media about systemic persecution of the UOC

Metropolitan Theodosius (Snigirev) of Cherkasy and Kaniv in a large-scale interview covered in detail the critical situation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). The bishop spoke about the numerous criminal cases brought against it, the forcible seizure of churches, the discriminatory mobilization of the clergy, and called on the Local Orthodox Churches to actively defend the canonical order and the rights of believers in the international field.

According to the Serbian Orthodox publication Zivot Crkve, Metropolitan Feodosije sees the current events in Ukraine as the fulfillment of the spiritual warnings of Serbian saints Nikolaj Velimirovic and Justin Popovic about secularization and the crisis of humanism. According to the bishop, modern society is facing a «civilization of death,» where freedom turns into slavery due to a deviation from moral principles. He emphasized that despite the persecution, hundreds of thousands of believers in Ukraine continue to remain faithful to the canonical Church.

During the conversation, the hierarch revealed the details of his personal persecution: five criminal cases were opened against him, several searches were conducted by the SBU, and his telephone conversations were tapped. The Metropolitan noted that the courts are making politically motivated decisions, including a recent sentence for preaching in defense of the community of the seized monastery in Cherkasy. «A bishop cannot stand aside when faith is insulted and Christians are mocked,» said the bishop, emphasizing his intention to defend his rights up to and including an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.

Particular attention was paid to the problem of «physical liquidation» of the clergy through forced mobilization. Metropolitan Theodosius pointed to discriminatory legislation that deprives UOC priests of the right to deferment, while representatives of other denominations receive such benefits. At the same time, UOC clerics are strictly prohibited from performing chaplaincy. The bishop also expressed disappointment with the position of the Ukrainian ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets, who, according to him, completely ignores the documented facts of violations of the rights of believers and the seizure of churches, including St. Michael’s Cathedral in Cherkasy.

At the end of the interview, Metropolitan Theodosius called on the Local Churches to strengthen prayer support and consolidated defense of the canonical order of the Basilian Orthodoxy. He expressed skepticism about the convening of the Pan-Orthodox Council in the format proposed by Phanar, calling it a «manipulative substitute for conciliar reason,» and called on the international community to hear the voice of persecuted Christians in the center of Europe.