Court in Metropolitan Theodosius case sought “Russia's support” at the council of Cherkasy diocese of UOC

On November 11, 2024, the Sosnovsky District Court of Cherkasy held a regular hearing in one of the cases brought against the hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Theodosius of Cherkasy and Kaniv. This time, the prosecution drew attention to the work of the official website of the Cherkasy Diocese of the UOC, which, in their opinion, published materials that “incite religious hatred” and “justify Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.” This was reported by the website Suspilne.Cherkasy.

«During the meeting, prosecutor Vadym Kolomiets read out the written materials in the case. According to the prosecutor, statements from the victims were attached to the case that the Internet resources associated with the Cherkasy Diocese of the UOC-MP posted materials that, according to the victims, contributed to inciting sectarian strife and justified Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. The prosecutor listed several statements and read out excerpts from the website of the UOC-MP diocese,» the statement said.

As a result of the trial and in order to clarify additional circumstances, the court hearing was postponed to November 29. Before that, the judges will have to determine whether the information published on the website of the Cherkasy Diocese of the UOC really violates the current legislation of Ukraine.

Earlier, the pro-Russian media published an “investigation” in which they tried to describe how the hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Theodosius of Cherkasy and Kaniv, is connected to Russia. Among the facts that were cited as arguments for “ties with Moscow” were the Metropolitan’s studies at the Kaluga Theological Seminary and the Moscow Theological Academy in the 2000s, his service in the Kaluga Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church, and his concelebration with Patriarch Kirill in 2015.