"The Venerable Ones Will Defend Us Themselves", - Metropolitan Theodosius on the Events in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra

In light of recent events surrounding the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, Metropolitan Theodosius addressed the faithful, urging them not to panic or lose their composure, as «everything is happening as it was meant to happen.»

«Today, the Venerable Fathers of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, do not need our help or protection. They will defend us themselves. Very soon they will,» emphasized the Metropolitan.

He noted that those who are now interfering with the Lavra’s sacred relics do not understand the power of the venerable saints and their right to this land. The Metropolitan compared the current events to past periods of persecution against the Church: «Their POWER and their RIGHT over our land are not understood by those who are now meddling with their relics. Just as, incidentally, their spiritual predecessors failed to understand this in 1922 and 1941. Let them meddle.»

The Metropolitan drew attention to the danger facing those who desecrate the sacred relics, recalling the words of a secular person who had warned years ago: «If only they do not touch the Caves and the relics of the Venerable Ones. This will end tragically.»

In his view, this boundary has now been crossed, and the consequences for the persecutors will be inevitable: «We have all suffered enough from their lawlessness and impunity. But we can do nothing about it. However, the venerable saints, unlike us, can.»

Metropolitan Theodosius also recalled the words of Metropolitan Arsenios, the abbot of Sviatogorsk Lavra, who, shortly before his imprisonment, said: «The final word will belong to the Venerable Fathers of Kyiv-Pechersk.»

The Metropolitan is convinced that it is now the persecutors themselves who are hastening the moment of this final word: «Let us place our hope in the Venerable Ones. And let the lawless ones proceed with their deeds quickly…».

On March 28, 2025, Metropolitan Theodosius of Cherkasy and Kaniv, a hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, participated in the 58th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council. During the session, he spoke about violations of the rights of UOC believers and the forcible seizure of the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel in Cherkasy, during which he, representatives of the diocesan clergy, and parishioners were personally affected.