"Our sincere prayers and solidarity with the UOC": Hierarch of the Malankara Church of India on the seizure of the cathedral in Cherkassy

Metropolitan Abraham Mar Stephanos of the Diocese of Great Britain, Europe and Africa (Malankara Orthodox Syriac Church) spoke out in connection with the raider seizure of the Archangel Michael Cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Cherkasy. The hierarch considers such incidents to be a violation of the dignity of the Church and believers. This is reported by the ROC DECR Communication Service.

«It is with great sorrow and indignation that I am writing to express my deep concern about the recent raid and violent seizure of the Archangel Michael Cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Cherkasy on October 17. The attack on Metropolitan Theodosius of Cherkasy and Kaniv, clergy and faithful by armed men in camouflage and balaclavas, accompanied by the use of tear gas, is a shocking and saddening act. Such cruelty directed against Orthodox believers in a sacred place is a violation of the dignity of the Church and believers,” Mar Stephanos wrote.

The representative of the Malankara Church expressed support for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, hierarchs and clergy who are being persecuted by the Ukrainian government.

«We would like to convey our sincere prayers and solidarity with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, especially with Metropolitan Theodosius, the clergy and the faithful who are going through such trials. The faithful here join me in praying for peace, justice and the strength to endure in these difficult times. In the spirit of Christian love, we recall the words of the Apostle Paul: “If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is glorified, all the members rejoice with it” (1 Corinthians 12:26). We stand with our brothers and sisters in Ukraine, united in prayer as they carry this cross. Please know that we will continue to offer our prayers for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, clergy and faithful, asking for God’s grace and intercession so that peace may be restored and His Church protected from evil,» he added.

As reported, on October 20, 2024, the 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 OCU radicals 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.