A representative of the Ethiopian Church criticized the seizure of the UOC Cathedral in Cherkasy

On October 20, 2024, a representative of the Ethiopian Patriarchate, Priest Daniel Seifemichael, gave an official commentary of the Ethiopian Church on the seizure of the Archangel Michael Cathedral of the Cherkasy Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church by the radicals of the OCU, which took place on October 17. Seifemichael criticized the pressure exerted on the UOC and called on the Ukrainian state to protect the rights of believers in the country. This is reported by the ROC DECR Communication Service.

“The Ethiopian Church looks with sorrow at the news coming from Ukraine. Everything that is happening there, including this attack on the cathedral, which has already become known to the whole world, indicates that the Orthodox Church and its believers in Ukraine are under terrible political pressure. This is absolutely unacceptable. Any church is a place of peace and prayer, not violence and curses. The feelings of believers and their rights — no matter what traditional denomination or religion we are talking about — must be unconditionally respected and strictly protected by any state. We express our deepest sympathy and sincere solidarity to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church,” — said the representative of the Ethiopian Church.

The head of the press service of the OCU, Yevstratiy Zoria, commented on the attack of 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 the incident on Metropolitan Theodosius of Cherkasy and Kaniv and called the situation “an attempt to discredit Ukraine.”