OCU 'Metropolitan': UOC Priests Receive Funding from the Russian Federation

The «Metropolitan» of Cherkasy and Chigirin, Ioan, expressed regret that only 21 UOC priests «joined» the OCU. He emphasized that such a practice of «transfers» is not widespread. This was reported by the publication «Vichepno».

The hierarch noted that parishioners reach out to each UOC priest with an offer to «join» the OCU. However, as a rule, these priests refuse.

The «Metropolitan» explained that many priests who remain in the UOC allegedly receive financial support from the Russian Federation, which is a significant factor in their decision to stay in their current position:

«We don’t have video documentation. But when a priest, who has no means, arrives in a luxury car and says he is not planning to transition anywhere, the parishioners make appropriate conclusions. Some priests even own property near Moscow or somewhere in Russia. Some have relatives who are archbishops there. Therefore, they will serve ‘Russian peace’ until the end, because it gave them birth and still supports them on the territory of Ukraine,» the cleric said.

Recall that on April 12, 2025, during the Divine Liturgy on Lazarus Saturday, supporters of the OCU staged a provocation against the community of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the town of Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi (Cherkasy region), who were praying in the open air in front of the gates of the Spas Nerkotvorny church, sealed due to legal proceedings.