UOC Metropolitan Yevlogy denied rumors about pressure of special services on the Council in Theophany

Metropolitan Yevlogy of Sumy and Akhtyr, the Administrator of the Sumy diocese of the UOC, issued an official statement in which he refuted the allegations circulating that the Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Theophany, held on May 27, 2022, was held under pressure. As a direct participant of the events, he assured that all decisions were made freely and without any external coercion.

In his statement, the hierarch emphasized that the Council was held in a «spirit of fraternal fellowship, open and healthy discussion.» According to him, none of the participants — be they bishops, delegates from the clergy, monastics or laity — reported any pressure or threats. «Personally, I have not heard from any of the participants that anyone felt pressured or threatened by the so-called ‘people in shoulder straps,'» the metropolitan noted.

As an example of the transparency of the process, he cited the procedure of electing delegates in his diocese. Representatives from Sumy diocese were elected at the diocesan meeting by secret ballot, in full compliance with the Charter of the UOC. These delegates, according to the Metropolitan, took an active part in the work of the Council and can confirm that the decision-making took place «honestly, freely and in a council-like manner».

In conclusion, Metropolitan Yevlogy called any attempts to present the historic Council as «unfree» a distortion of facts. In his opinion, such statements are a manifestation of «disrespect for the entire church community, which at the Council sincerely sought to preserve unity and peace in the body of the Church of Christ.»

Earlier Metropolitan of Cherkassy and Kanev Theodosius (Snigiryov) said that the Council in Theophany in 2022 was held under pressure from the secret services. The bishop noted that the hierarchs of the UOC were threatened by people «in shoulder straps» before participating in the council, demanding that they make «necessary decisions».