Metropolitan of Cherkasy calls on the faithful to defend St. Andrew Church

Metropolitan Theodosiy of Cherkasy and Kaniv. Photo: screenshot of video address

On May 6, 2025, Metropolitan Theodosiy of Cherkasy made an emergency public statement in response to an attempted seizure of St. Andrew Church in the city of Cherkasy. According to the hierarch, a group of individuals had arrived at the church with the intent to take over the building, despite the fact that it is the lawful property of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church’s Cherkasy Eparchy.

In his impassioned address, Metropolitan Theodosiy directly appealed to the mayor of Cherkasy, Anatoliy Bondarenko, and his aide Yuriy Trenkin, urging them to act within the boundaries of the law and to resolve property disputes solely through the courts.

“This is the property of a legal entity – the Cherkasy Eparchy,” the hierarch emphasized. “It does not belong to any community, neither the city nor any so-called religious community.”

He stressed that the actions being taken constitute violations of current legislation and of the constitutional rights of believers.

“This is not the property of any community – municipal, religious, or mythical. And it never was the property of any of them. Do you really hold such high public office in this city and not know the law? Do you not have legal advisors? Of course you do. And you know perfectly well that you are now breaking the law. And if the rule of law ever returns to our country, you will go to prison,” the hierarch declared.

The ruling bishop of the Cherkasy Eparchy called upon all faithful to come to St. Andrew Church and defend it. He also expressed deep concern that, while he as a clergyman of the UOC faces numerous legal proceedings, the actions of the opposing side go unpunished.

The situation surrounding St. Andrew Church remains tense, and no compromise has yet been reached between the conflicting parties.

It should be recalled that on April 28, 2025, Metropolitan Theodosiy stated that the Cherkasy authorities were preparing to commit a crime against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

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