Cherkasy, Cherkasy Province, Ukraine, October 28, 2024
Photo: spzh.live
The Cherkasy Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and its ruling hierarch, His Eminence Metropolitan Theodosy, have received a number of statements of condolences and support after Cherkasy’s Archangel Michael Cathedral was violently seized by anti-Orthodox bandits of the schismatic “Orthodox Church of Ukraine.”
The OCU enjoys the support of Patriarch Bartholomew, who created it in 2018. Since then there have been many such attacks on Orthodox hierarchs, clergy, and faithful, but the incident in Cherkasy on October 17 has been perhaps the most violent, with OCU representatives shooting gas pistols and spraying tear gas.
Met. Theodosy himself was injured and required medical treatment.
Since then, hierarchs and clergy gatherings from other Local Churches have expressed support for the persecuted Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Met. Theodosy.
In his statement, His Eminence Metropolitan Gabriel of Lovech of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church describes the violent scene in more detail:
With great sorrow, we learned of the great tragedy that has befallen your Orthodox city of Cherkasy—the violent seizure of the UOC Cathedral of the Archangel Michael, which occurred in two stages, following a call from the city mayor. On October 17th, around 3 AM, approximately 100 people in camouflage uniforms and masks stormed the church where Orthodox Christians had gathered and the Divine Liturgy was being served. The faithful, led by you, their hierarch, managed to prevent the seizure of the church, but on the morning of the same day, the attack was repeated, with the attackers this time using not only physical force but also tear gas. We also learned that you personally suffered during the attack, having been struck on the head and targeted with tear gas. As a result, you lost consciousness and had to be hospitalized. Many faithful were also injured, including an elderly monk who was severely beaten. The police were called but did nothing to protect the faithful in the church from the aggressive violent actions of the attackers. Here we recall the words of St. Paul about what true just authority should be: For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil (Rom. 13:3-4).
Your Eminence, in our diocese since 2022, during the Divine Liturgy in churches and monasteries, we have been praying for peace in brotherly Ukraine. We also pray for the brotherly Ukrainian Orthodox Church that the Lord may protect it from violence and give it the opportunity to pray in its churches and monasteries as before for its Orthodox homeland and people and for the whole world.
We ask for your holy archpastoral prayers.
His Eminence Metropolitan Joanikije of Montenegro of the Serbian Orthodox Church writes:
With great pain and compassion, I received news about the forcible seizure by raiders of the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael in Cherkasy. Ukrainian schismatics have repeatedly, but this time especially vividly and clearly, shown to the whole world through violence and hatred with which they attacked this holy place, demonstrated to the whole world that these are people who do not possess basic concepts of the Christian faith and are not its bearers, if they are ready to commit such a crime and deprive their brethren of their house of prayer.
In such a difficult situation, you, dear Vladyka, together with the clergy and flock, have shown to the whole world an example of genuine sacrifice and readiness to stand up for freedom of faith and conscience in a Christian way. In this difficult time for you, I assure you of brotherly support and constant prayer for you, your clergy, and your pious flock. We believe and pray that the Lord will hear your prayers and that soon you will again be celebrating the Divine Eucharist in your Cathedral.
And the clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia’s Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America write in the resolution from their 2024 retreat:
We express our condolences to Metropolitan Theodosiy of Cherkasy on the violent seizure of his cathedral, and lament the ongoing confiscation of other holy places that are under the omophorion of Metropolitan Onouphry. We urge the faithful to pray for all Orthodox Christians enduring war and persecutions throughout the world.
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