Shevchuk criticizes “church that seeks to become state-sanctioned”
Shevchuk hinted that the OCU aspires to be a state church. Photo: UGCC Press Service
On July 29, 2025, during a sermon marking the 160th anniversary of the birth of Metropolitan Andriy Sheptytsky, the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Sviatoslav Shevchuk, criticized religious denominations that, amid war, are fighting over property and striving for the status of a state church.
“This has always happened, throughout history and among all peoples – certain religious institutions were used as a social ladder to obtain a better piece of bread, a better place in society,” Shevchuk said.
He warned that if bishops or priests fight for benefits, privileges, awards, and titles – if they struggle for primacy around the throne, or seek to emulate oligarchs and live for their own pleasure – then Christ says to them: “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
“If churches and Christians are waging war over property in Ukraine during wartime, if churches are competing before secular authorities for privileges and honors, trying to become a state church, then today Christ tells the Christians of Ukraine: ‘Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees,’” Shevchuk stated.
The head of the UGCC did not specify which denomination he had in mind.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that, according to Shevchuk, the UGCC is waiting for Saint Sophia Cathedral to become the cathedral of the united Church.
Read also
Pat. Theophilos urges diplomats to protect Christians' rights in Holy Land
The Primate of the Jerusalem Church called on the international community to protect the freedom of worship in the Holy City and Christians of the Holy Land.
Patriarch Bartholomew: Like Christ, we hear only slander from our children
The head of the Constantinople Patriarchate stated that, like the Lord, he hears only accusations from his children.
UOC hierarchs and Romanian clergy consecrate frescoes of Bykovyna monastery
In Bukovyna, the clergy of the Ukrainian and Romanian Orthodox Churches consecrated the wall paintings of the monastery church "Slatina" in Krasnoilsk.
State TV shows how many people attend Chernihiv cathedral seized from UOC
Footage from "Suspilne Chernihiv" shows about 10 people at the Sunday service of the OCU in the Transfiguration Cathedral in Chernihiv.
In Berezhany, UGCC given monastery where colony was located
The sacred building on the territory of the former juvenile colony will once again become a place of religious life.
English Prince supports Archbishopess after scandal during her appointment
Prince William publicly supported the new head of the Church of England after an incident at the ceremony where a protest against her appointment was stopped.