Metropolitan Theodosius: Overwhelming majority of clergy of Cherkasy Eparchy remains loyal to UOC

Metropolitan Theodosius of Cherkasy and Kaniv said that only a very small part of the clergy of the Cherkasy Eparchy had transferred to the jurisdiction of the OCU, while the bulk of the clergy and believers remain faithful to the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church. In an interview with the UOJ, the hierarch noted that in the face of external pressure, the church communities of the region not only preserved their integrity but also demonstrated internal strengthening.

In his interview, Vladyka emphasized that the scale of transitions in the region was minimal. “In the Cherkasy region, a tiny part of the clergy left. Not even one in 12 left, but much less,” Metropolitan Theodosius emphasized. In his opinion, this trend is observed in the entire structure of the UOC, despite the difficult external circumstances and ongoing trials for the faithful.

The Metropolitan paid special attention to the state of parishes, noting that church attendance has not decreased. On the contrary, a number of communities have seen an increase in the number of parishioners due to the influx of immigrants from the eastern and southern regions of the country. Vladyka is convinced that for many believers, the current situation has become a moment of conscious spiritual choice and readiness to follow their Church, despite the difficulties. Earlier, Metropolitan Theodosius also spoke at the international level, informing the UN about cases of religious genocide in Ukraine.

As reported earlier, the head of the Khmelnytsky Diocese of the OCU, Simeon Shostatsky, again raised the issue of a critical shortage of clergy that arose against the background of the transition of communities from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). The main problem is that believers are ready to change jurisdiction, while UOC priests are refusing to move to the OCU along with their parishes.