Metropolitan Anthony: Seizure of churches does not lead to disappearance of the Church, despite ongoing persecution

The leading media in Serbia and Montenegro published a landmark interview with Metropolitan Anthony of Boryspil and Brovary, the Chancellor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). In it, the hierarch touched upon acute issues related to the ongoing persecution of the UOC, noting that the process of its de facto ban does not stop, although it contradicts the law. The Metropolitan emphasized that despite the administrative seizures of churches and restrictions on its activities, the Church retains its strength due to its deep roots in the people, and the seized shrines often remain empty.

According to the Serbian edition Politika, Metropolitan Anthony emphasized that the de facto ban on the UOC continues despite its complete contradiction to the Ukrainian Constitution, current laws of the country and international law. Court hearings on the fate of the UOC are moving slowly, with the next one scheduled for February 2026. At the local level, the activities of church communities are being restricted and their churches are being transferred to another religious structure, often without the knowledge of the UOC believers. At the same time, according to the Metropolitan, fictitious meetings for «transfers» are no longer even staged, and church property is simply administratively reassigned to the «Orthodox Church of Ukraine.»

However, Metropolitan Anthony emphasizes that a complete and comprehensive ban on the UOC is legally and practically extremely difficult because of its scale and deep roots in the people. «When a church is taken away from us, believers and priests remain faithful to the Church,» said the bishop, recalling that many UOC communities are forced to hold services in apartments or makeshift premises. The seized churches, he said, often remain empty, as for those who seized them, they serve as a political or financial tool, not a place of prayer. The hierarch emphasized that history has repeatedly confirmed that the seizure of churches does not lead to the disappearance of the Church.

The UOC Chancellor also emphasized the silence of the Patriarchate of Constantinople in the context of the persecution of the UOC. According to the bishop, Phanar has not yet made a clear and unequivocal public condemnation of violence, beating of believers and desecration of shrines.

Earlier, the Primate of the Albanian Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Archbishop John, spoke out on the Ukrainian church issue. The first hierarch drew attention to the fact that the creation of the OCU split world Orthodoxy, noting that the Synod of the Albanian Church expressed its position on this issue and it remains unchanged.