Bishop in court: Persecutors, not defenders of UOC, undermine Ukraine’s image

Metropolitan Theodosiy. Photo: Screenshot from the Cherkasy Eparchy video

On October 3, 2025, the Sosnivsky District Court of Cherkasy denied Metropolitan Theodosiy of Cherkasy and Kaniv permission to travel abroad to participate in the session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. The Cherkasy Eparchy of the UOC published the hierarch’s address in court.

Metropolitan Theodosiy pointed out the complete incompetence of the prosecutors who opposed his trip. He refuted prosecutor Kostenko’s claim that the organization which invited him “has nothing to do with the UN.”

The hierarch noted that this organization holds consultative status with the UN Human Rights Council. He added that anyone could verify the authenticity of his invitation by visiting the UN website, where his name is listed.

“Why are the prosecutors so afraid of my trip and my communication with UN special rapporteurs? Because they know that the special rapporteurs officially sent a letter to the government of Ukraine – a copy of which we submitted to the court – regarding violations of the rights of UOC believers. This letter specifically mentioned me, the Cherkasy Eparchy, and the bloody seizure of the Cherkasy cathedral,” he said.

The Metropolitan emphasized that he intended to speak about violations of the Constitution and human rights in Ukraine – not to discredit the country, as the OCU clerics acting as ‘victims’ in court claimed, but to defend the constitutional rights of UOC believers.

“It is not those who defend the faithful who undermine the image of our state, but those who orchestrate this persecution of the UOC,” the UOC hierarch said.

He reminded the OCU clerics Zasansky and Pedka that “the wounds of UOC believers injured by OCU militants have not yet healed.” The prosecutor, however, claimed that testimony about crimes committed by OCU clergy constituted “pressure” on them.

The open incitement of hatred by “OCU chaplains” provoked no reaction from the prosecutor.

As the UOJ previously reported, the court refused to grant the Cherkasy hierarch permission to travel to Geneva to participate in the UN session.

Read also