OCU cleric labels Sts. Matrona and Xenia as "Russian nutcases"

Icon of Xenia of St. Petersburg. Photo: Open Sources

Roman Hryshchuk, a "priest" of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), attended the funeral service of a Ukrainian Armed Forces soldier at the UOC’s St. Nicholas Church and told those present that they were under "Moscow occupation", justifying his claim by pointing to the presence of certain saints' icons in the church.

In a Facebook post, Hryshchuk stated that these saints include the Royal Martyrs, Matrona of Moscow, and Xenia of St. Petersburg, whom he described as "Russian psychos."

"It’s very easy to identify churches occupied by Moscow," Hryshchuk assured. "They always have icons of the Russian trinity: Xenia of St. Petersburg, Matrona of Moscow, and Russian Emperor Nicholas II, to remind people whose imperial fist they are living under."

As previously reported by the UOJ, Roman Hryshchuk once shared proof of his mental health status.

Read also

UOC Sumy bishop expresses support for Bukovynians who defended their shrine

Metropolitan Yevlogiy thanked the faithful who protected their holy site and liberated it from the attackers.

UOC offers memorial prayers for victims of RF attack on Ukraine, June 17

Clergy and seminarians of the Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary held a memorial litia for the souls of those killed in the Russian strike.