Cherkasy ruling bishop reveals how many clergy joined OCU
Metropolitan Theodosiy. Photo: Press Service of the Cherkasy Eparchy
March 12, 2025 – During a gathering of the clergy of the Cherkasy Eparchy, Metropolitan Theodosiy shared previously undisclosed statistics about the diocese’s clergy.
According to him, out of 200 clergy members in the diocese, only 15 have joined the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU). Among them, only one was from Cherkasy and its suburbs. Meanwhile, 30 new priests have been ordained in the same period. Thus, despite what he described as ongoing persecution, the clergy of the diocese has actually grown. The hierarch stated that he is proud of his clergy.
Speaking about those who left, he noted that they have changed significantly.
"They become aggressive, even writing denunciations to the SBU against me personally and against their fellow priests. They testify in court cases, some even file lawsuits and come to court, looking us in the eye. What happened to you, people? You are priests!" said the metropolitan.
He added that two of them have expressed a desire to return, but he has set a condition for them to do so publicly.
"You left loudly, causing scandal among the faithful. Please return publicly. That is the condition. They are thinking it over," said Metropolitan Theodosiy, without revealing their names for their safety.
He also cited the example of Father Andriy Shymanovych, who found the courage to return to his native Church during its most difficult period.
Metropolitan Theodosiy is confident that most of those who left will eventually return.
He believes that, just as in the times of iconoclasm, the persecution will end suddenly: "In the morning, we will wake up in a different society, and everything will be in its place. We will return to our open, welcoming churches, our parishioners will come back, and everything will be fine. But until then, we must endure."
Earlier, Union of Orthodox Journalists (UOJ) reported that in Blahodatne, the OCU seized a UOC church, taking advantage of the rector's illness.
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