Legoyda: Church seizures – leitmotif of Ukrainian presidential campaign

Владимир Легойда назвал беспрецедентными захваты храмов в период предвыборной кампании в Украине

The takeovers of churches during the presidential campaign in Ukraine have become unprecedented, according to Vladimir Legoyda, the head of the Synodal Department for Church, Society and Media Relations, reports Patriarchia.ru.


"A situation where religious rights are being violated during the presidential campaign with the silent consent of the authorities, including the takeovers of churches by a group of radicals encouraged by the authorities, is totally unthinkable for European political and legal reality," the religion scholar stressed.

"There is no doubt that the current Ukrainian administration's rule will be remembered for decades to come because of the encouragement of brother-hating, church takeovers, and the suffering of innocent believers, not because of magic rituals involving a piece of paper called a tomos brightly colored by Greek handymen," he said.

He called on "those Ukrainian figures who think they are those who fancy themselves creators and destroyers of churches to stop and think about the results the behavior of a bull in a china shop can have".

Earlier, the political consultant Sergey Gaidai said that the advertising campaign with the Tomos uses the same scheme as professional illusionists – distraction.

Read also

In Pasika, Transcarpathia, priest defects to OCU while community remains in UOC

In the village of Paseka in Transcarpathia, believers discussed the future fate of their church.

In Sumy, Presentation Church of UOC damaged by shelling

In the Sumy Eparchy, the walls and fence of the Presentation Church were damaged as a result of shelling, but divine services continue.

Ukraine loses almost 98% of cases at European Court of Human Rights

According to the ECtHR’s 2025 report, nearly all complaints against Ukraine end with findings of human rights violations.

UOC Chancellor on Kyiv Council decision targeting UOC: Obvious lawlessness

Metropolitan Anthony said the document adopted by the Kyiv Regional Council violates the Constitution, interferes with freedom of religion, and exceeds the body’s authority.

In Finland, Constantinopolitan Church hierarch convicted of fraud

A Finnish court found the former archbishop of the Constantinople Patriarchate guilty of manipulating state subsidies and committing financial violations.

His Beatitude: Pure faith is the only path to soul salvation

On the Sunday of the Triumph of Orthodoxy, the Primate of the UOC urged the faithful not to tailor faith to human reasoning and passions, and reminded them of the significance of the Ecumenical Councils.