New meeting in U.S. Congress held on protecting UOC

Meeting with the Congressman. Photo: UOJ in America

On November 19, 2025, another meeting took place on Capitol Hill between representatives of the Orthodox clergy from the Society of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco and a U.S. congressman, dedicated to discussing the persecution of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church, UOJ in America reports.

The meeting was held with Rep. Darrell Issa, a Republican from California who serves as Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Notably, Issa himself is an Orthodox Christian of the Antiochian tradition, which gives him a deep understanding of the challenges facing persecuted Christians around the world.

The Orthodox delegation included Bishop John of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese, Metropolitan Nicholas, First Hierarch of ROCOR, and other representatives of various Orthodox jurisdictions. The meeting addressed the systematic persecution of the canonical UOC, violations of religious freedom in Ukraine, the need to defend the rights of believers at the international level, and the role of the United States in upholding the principles of religious liberty.

One of the attendees, Catherine Whiteford, who also serves as Co-Chair of the Young Republican National Federation, said:

“We are grateful for his leadership as Vice Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and, as an Antiochian Orthodox Christian himself, for his deep understanding of the challenges faced by persecuted Christians around the world. Thankful for the conversation and his commitment to defending religious freedom.”

This meeting continued a series of dialogues between Orthodox leaders and American lawmakers. Earlier this week, a meeting took place with Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna, also focused on the protection of the UOC.

As noted by UOJ’s American edition, the meeting with Congressman Issa carries particular significance given his influential position on the Foreign Affairs Committee and his personal familiarity with the Orthodox tradition. His support may help raise awareness in the U.S. Congress, facilitate the adoption of resolutions in defense of religious freedom, and encourage diplomatic pressure aimed at halting persecution.

The Orthodox delegation plans to continue a series of meetings with U.S. legislators to build a broad coalition in support of the persecuted UOC. It is expected that the issue of religious freedom in Ukraine will be raised at the upcoming hearings of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that an Orthodox delegation in the U.S. had discussed the protection of the UOC with a congressman.

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