OCU spokesman accuses UOC of attempting to discredit Ukraine over clashes at Cherkasy Cathedral

The head of the press service of the OCU, Yevstratiy Zoria, commented on the attack by radicals on the clergy and believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church during the seizure of the UOC Cathedral in Cherkasy by supporters of the OCU on October 17. Zoria blamed Metropolitan Theodosius of Cherkasy and Kaniv for the incident and called the situation “an attempt to discredit Ukraine.” He said this in a commentary to Ukrinform.

“The head of the local structure of the Moscow Patriarchate is Metropolitan Feodosiy Snigirev, who has long been under investigation as a suspect in a number of episodes. His case is in the process of being tried, so this is a person who, even against the background of the Moscow Patriarchate in Ukraine, is particularly pro-Russian. Therefore, what happened yesterday in Cherkasy was a deliberate provocation by specific individuals who tried to create a picture for Russian propaganda,” — Zorya said.

As reported, on the night of October 17, 2024, in Cherkasy, supporters of the OCU, with the support of local authorities, made another attempt to seize the Archangel Michael Cathedral of the Cherkasy Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The armed raiders, taking advantage of the curfew, freely entered the church and diocesan premises at night, but with the onset of morning, Metropolitan Theodosius, the head of the Cherkasy diocese of the UOC, the clergy and parishioners of the cathedral gathered and defended the shrine, expelling the invaders.

After an unsuccessful nighttime attempt to seize the church, the OCU raiders, having increased their number, finally took possession of the Archangel Michael Cathedral of the Cherkasy Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. During the next clash, the clergy and parishioners of the church were expelled from the premises. Many clergymen and believers of the UOC suffered injuries of varying severity and chemical burns from the raiders’ use of tear gas.

Author: RaskolamNetNews