UOC believers in Cherkasy seek protection from Metropolitan Nektarios
Divine Liturgy at the Church of St. Spyridon in Cherkasy. Photo: t.me/Cherkasy_Blagovestnyk
On June 15, 2025, Orthodox believers from Cherkasy gathered over 1,000 signatures in one day, asking Metropolitan Nektarios of Kerkira, Paxoi, and the Ionian Islands for protection for the Church of St. Spyridon in the city, which is at risk of being seized by representatives of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU).
The request was made after the threat of a forceful takeover by the OCU, which had already taken similar actions in Cherkasy. According to the faithful, “Metropolitan” Ivan Yaremenko publicly announced his intention to seize this last remaining church of the canonical Church in the city, where three Divine Liturgies are held every Sunday to accommodate all those who wish to attend.
"Today, due to the lack of churches in our city, believers of the canonical Church cannot even fit in our Church of St. Spyridon on Sundays... Meanwhile, the cathedral and other churches seized by representatives of the OCU stand empty," the letter states.
The letter, which was signed by over 1,040 believers in just one day, expresses gratitude to Metropolitan Nektarios for sending the great relic – a shoe of St. Spyridon – as spiritual support to the persecuted UOC faithful in Cherkasy.
The believers also asked for his prayers for the preservation of the holy relic and the church and, if possible, to appeal to other hierarchs, including Patriarch Bartholomew, under whose jurisdiction the OCU representatives involved in the seizures fall.
"After all, the clergy of the OCU, who are threatening us today and attempting to finally deprive us of Orthodox life in Cherkasy, are under the canonical jurisdiction of Patriarch Bartholomew. They will be forced to carry out his blessing to cease the lawlessness if such a blessing follows. We believe that your voice, like the voice of St. Spyridon, can reach the hearts of those who hold the power to stop the injustice and lawlessness of the OCU representatives, who are beating, robbing, and depriving us of our holy relics," the letter concludes.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that Epifany Dumenko had awarded the individuals involved in the seizure of the UOC cathedral in Cherkasy.
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