Cherkasy bishop: The accusations against me are unfounded and far-fetched

Metropolitan Theodosy of Cherkasy and Kaniv in court. Photo: a video screenshot of the press service of the Cherkasy Eparchy of the UOC

Metropolitan Theodosy of Cherkasy and Kaniv insists that the charges brought against him by the SBU and the Prosecutor's Office are unfounded and hopes that the court will recognise this. The bishop said this during the court session, which considered the issue of changing or extending his measure of restraint (round-the-clock house arrest).

"I consider the accusations against me to be groundless, and far-fetched," the Metropolitan said. “My defence lawyers and I will prove it in court. I hope for justice and fairness of our court and that we will definitely prove my complete innocence of the charges that were brought by the SBU and the Prosecutor's Office. I do not consider myself guilty. I did not commit any crimes.”

Vladyka said that there was no need to keep him under arrest around the clock because he would not hide from justice.

"I will not hide, of course, – my social obligations are much higher than those who accuse me. I head one of the key eparchies of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and my social ties are not about material values, as some people think (because the world likes to tie everything to material values). My social, pastoral, hierarchical, spiritual, canonical duties are here, in the country where I was born, grew up, where my Orthodox flock is and for which I am responsible," the archbishop explained.

He also noted that round-the-clock house arrest does not allow him to fully manage his large eparchy, which includes about 300 parishes, a dozen monasteries, over 200 clergymen and 300 monks and nuns. In addition, because of the ban on leaving the place of residence, the bishop cannot perform his duties as a teacher at the Kyiv Theological Academy, giving lectures and conducting tests and examinations.

As reported, despite a request by Metropolitan Theodosy's defence to soften the preventive measure by assigning him overnight house arrest, the court extended the round-the-clock arrest of the archbishop for another two months.

The bishop is accused of committing crimes under Part 2 and Part 3 of Article 436-2 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code (justification, recognition as lawful, denial of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and glorification of its participants) and Article 161 (violation of equality of citizens on the ground of their religious affiliation and religious beliefs).

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