Department for External Church Relations
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Archbishop Theodosios of Sebastia characterizes the seizure of the Cathedral and beating of the Hierarch in Cherkasy as barbaric actions
DECR Communication service, 23.10.2024
Archbishop Theodosios of Sebastia (Patriarchate of Jerusalem) issued a statement demanding an immediate end to the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
"Today, we especially mourn the painful sufferings and anguish caused by the war in Gaza and Lebanon. We fervently pray and ask God for the military actions to cease as soon as possible, for the bloodshed to stop, and for the destruction to end," reads the statement from Archbishop Theodosios, published on social media.
At the same time, the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem is concerned about the situation in Ukraine. "The persecution faced by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church from the Ukrainian authorities has not ceased, but only intensifies each day, accompanied by brutality, aggression, and barbaric actions," testified the Archpastor. All these actions are carried out with the support of the so-called "OCU," created to replace the only canonical and legitimate Orthodox Church on Ukrainian soil, led by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry.
The seizures of churches and property belonging to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, as well as attacks on bishops and clergy, are continuing. "The Ukrainian authorities are still brutally persecuting the ancient Church, which was established in Ukraine when Christianity came to that land," writes Archbishop Theodosios. For instance, recently there was a seizure of the Archangel Michael Cathedral in Cherkasy diocese, during which the ruling bishop was severely beaten.
"Again and again, we wish to express our full solidarity and deep support for the only canonical Orthodox Church of Ukraine, led by Metropolitan Onuphry, and we resolutely condemn the actions against it by the Kiev authorities, who operate in collaboration with the newly created organization falsely and baselessly called the 'Orthodox Church of Ukraine.' We lift our prayers to the Lord, asking Him to protect and support the martyred Church, which bears witness to the truth in Ukraine, to strengthen its Primate, the metropolitans, and all the clergy, as well as to preserve the Ukrainian people and all the churches in these lands that torn by the war, for the cessation of which we pray so fervently," states Archbishop Theodosios.
"How long will the persecution of this sister Church continue?! The attacks on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church are directed at all Orthodox Churches worldwide, and all must make joint efforts to end the aggressive actions and persecution of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church," Archbishop Theodosios urges.
Once again, the Archpastor called on the UN, human rights, and international organizations "to take responsibility and pay greater attention to the persecution faced by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, showing respect for the ancient presence and history of this Church."
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