U.S. priest urges defense of UOC amid persecution

Fr. Zachariah Lynch. Photo: UOJ video screenshot

Fr. Zachariah Lynch, a priest of the Orthodox Church in America, has once again called on Orthodox believers to defend the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, citing the continued persecution of its clergy in Ukraine. The priest made the appeal in a video message posted on the UOJ-America Telegram channel. His statement came as preparations were underway for an award ceremony honoring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in New York.

The priest questioned whether it was appropriate for Orthodox institutions in the United States to honor Zelensky with the Beacon of Hope Award, which is to be presented to him in New York, while Ukrainian authorities continue to persecute UOC clergy and faithful.

Fr. Zachariah also recalled the August 23 attack on members of the Holy Dormition Sviatohirsk Lavra, describing the incident as part of the broader atmosphere surrounding the UOC.

The priest referred to reports of UOC clergy being abducted by military recruitment officers and urged American Orthodox Christians to imagine how they would react if clergy in their own communities were treated in the same way.

He appealed to the faithful of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese to contact their bishops and priests and voice their opposition to the persecution of the UOC.

“Will Orthodox Greeks honor their glorious ancestry by speaking out in defense of their true Orthodox brethren in Ukraine, or will they become like new Turks – participants in the act of persecution of fellow Orthodox believers?” Fr. Zachariah asked at the end of his appeal.

As the UOJ reported, the Phanar’s archons supported the decision to present Zelensky with the award.

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