Metropolitan Theodosius: "If I have to go to prison for the truth and for the defense of believers, I will consider it an honor"

Metropolitan Theodosius of Cherkasy and Kaniv delivered a closing statement in court in a criminal case in Cherkasy, stating that the prosecution against him is politically motivated and is related to his open position in defense of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The bishop emphasized that the charges have a «political component» and relate to the freedom of conscience, speech and religious affiliation of Ukrainian citizens.

According to the press service of the Cherkasy Diocese of the UOC, Metropolitan Theodosius emphasized that the charges under Article 161 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine contain neither the elements of a crime nor a sufficient evidence base. According to him, the case is not directed against him as a citizen, but against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and the whole process is connected with his active position in protecting the clergy and believers.

Bishop Theodosius reaffirmed his readiness to continue to defend nuns, priests and lay people who suffered during the seizures of churches and monasteries. «If I have to go to prison for the truth and for the defense of believers, I will consider it an honor,» the Metropolitan said.

The bishop also drew attention to the fact that in May 2025, seven UN special rapporteurs sent an official communication to the government of Ukraine. In this document, Cherkasy was named one of the most problematic regions in terms of observance of the rights of believers. According to the Metropolitan, the communication specifically mentions his name, and the case itself is associated with the public defense of the canonical independence of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the refusal to recognize the state-backed OCU.

Metropolitan Theodosius warned that any guilty verdict in this case will inevitably be subject to review by the European Court of Human Rights.

Earlier, we reported that the Sosnovsky District Court of Cherkasy rejected the accusations of the regional prosecutor’s office of «Ukrainophobia» and «negative attitude towards the population of Ukraine», which the prosecution put forward as arguments for tightening the preventive measure against the hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Theodosius of Cherkasy and Kaniv. The judge concluded that the prosecutor had failed to substantiate his accusations with facts.