Zoria complains that UOC communities obstruct transition of churches to OCU

Pshenychnyi aiming a pistol at UOC parishioners in the Cherkasy cathedral. Photo: Karas' Telegram channel

The spokesperson for the OCU, "Metropolitan" Yevstratiy Zoria, complained that faithful members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) are actively obstructing the transfer of communities to the jurisdiction of Dumenko, sometimes even using physical force against activists. He shared this in a comment to Espresso.

"I wouldn’t say that it has become easier because the process is multi-stage. Legally, it is not entirely simple for a community to go through all the steps of this procedure. Moreover, representatives of the Moscow Patriarchate generally do everything they can to prevent a community from implementing its decision: from blocking the possibility of holding a community meeting to sabotaging already-made decisions," he noted.

Zorya lamented that even after changes to the community charter are registered, UOC believers refuse to join the OCU and continue to create obstacles.

"We should expect that once communities start receiving lawful orders to eliminate their affiliation with religious organizations centered in the aggressor country, namely the Russian Federation under the Moscow Patriarchate, the issue will become poignant," emphasized Yevstratiy Zorya.

It will be recalled that 14 criminal cases have been initiated against supporters of the OCU involved in the seizure of the Cherkasy cathedral. Among the injuries sustained by UOC believers due to activists: broken legs, ribs, and knocked-out teeth. Additionally, there is an investigation into OCU activist Davyd Pshenychnyi, who fired a traumatic weapon inside the cathedral.

Read also

After Chernivtsi mass brawl, Ukraine urges Romanian Church to recognize OCU

The Ambassador of Ukraine to Romania demands church recognition amid the seizure of churches and the beating of priests in Bukovyna.

Pope on wars in Ukraine and Middle East: They benefit merchants of death

According to the pontiff, while some people die in wars, others profit from them.