Hierarch of the Jerusalem Patriarchate: Judicial Pressure on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Threatens the Denomination's Very Existence

Archbishop Theodosius of Sebaste, a hierarch of the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem, has sharply criticized the actions of the Ukrainian authorities toward the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). According to His Eminence, the current lawsuits are aimed not at resolving administrative issues, but at the de facto destruction of the church’s structure.

Archbishop Theodosius specifically highlighted the upcoming court hearing scheduled for July 2, during which a lawsuit seeking the dissolution of the UOC and the revocation of its official status will be considered. The hierarch is convinced that the authorities’ actions are part of a systematic campaign that includes the seizure of churches, searches of monasteries, and the persecution of the clergy.

In a post on social media, the archbishop emphasized that such steps are aimed at depriving millions of believers of their legitimate church representation. Despite the pressure being exerted, the UOC states its intention to continue its activities while preserving its historical and spiritual roots.

As a reminder, earlier, Catholicos-Patriarch Shio III of All Georgia, shortly before his election to the Patriarchal throne, officially expressed his support for the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), Metropolitan Onufry, confirming the Georgian Church’s commitment to canonical unity with the UOC. This statement served as a significant signal regarding the preservation of the Georgian Patriarchate’s foreign policy course following the change in leadership.