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
Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) has been assigned to serve in Brazil
After the incident in the Czech Republic, Metropolitan Hilarion will continue his ministry in the Argentine-South American Diocese.
Israel Introduces Fines for Use of Loudspeakers in Mosques
Law enforcement officers have received permission to confiscate sound equipment in case of violations.
Armenian Catholicos Prohibits Authorities from Interfering in Church Affairs
Garegin II reported the initiation of more than a dozen criminal cases against clergy.
The Synod of the Romanian Church accepted the resignation of Metropolitan Peter of Bessarabia
The Synod Chancellery announced preparations for the election of a new head of the metropolia and the formation of a list of candidates.
Metropolitan Onuphrius headed the final meeting of the Academic Council of KDAiS
The Primate of the UOC awarded orders to distinguished employees of the KDAiS and wished the teaching staff God's help in their continued service to the Church.
In the Piraeus Metropolitanate, a satanist convention in the USA was called a spiritual deviation
The Church of Greece criticized the popularization of Satanism in the West, characterizing such events as "deification of the human ego."