Zaporozhye, Zaporozhye Province, Ukraine, September 10, 2025
hramzp.ua
In an interview from June now published by the Zaporozhye Diocese of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church, His Eminence Metropolitan Luke of Zaporozhye addresses the UOC’s rejection of the 2019 tomos granted to the schismatic “Orthodox Church of Ukraine,” details systematic state discrimination against the UOC, and explains the Church’s approach to wartime challenges.
The hierarch discusses why the UOC considers the OCU uncanonical, describes pressure tactics including exclusion from military exemptions and forced evictions, defends priests serving in Russian-controlled territories as acting out of pastoral duty, while outlining his vision for Orthodox unity based on canonical principles rather than political coercion.
Asked whether the UOC recognizes the canonicity of the tomos granted to the “Orthodox Church of Ukraine,” Met. Luke responded as the Church has consistently responded since 2019, explaining that the tomos has no canonical validity because it was given to groups previously unrecognized by any Orthodox Churches, whose hierarchs lacked legitimate ordination. Only four Churches have recognized the OCU, and they “are closely affiliated with the Patriarchate of Constantinople and under the influence of American state institutions,” the hierarch explained.
Next, His Eminence notes that his diocese has more than 50 parishes, over half of which are in “uncontrolled territory.” Since the creation of the OCU, only two of his priests have apostatized to the schismatic structure, one of whom “’loved’ Ukraine so much that he fled the country.” The other is engaged in such strange spiritual practices that even the OCU is now disavowing him, Met. Luke added.
Asked whether he is considering the possibility of switching to the OCU in the future, the Metropolitan asked rhetorically:
“Would you go to a leper colony? Or into a plague outbreak without protective gear?”
Further, he explained what is obvious for Orthodox believers:
There are canonical and moral obstacles. The faithful understand that transitioning to the newly created structure means breaking with canonicity. This is betrayal. For them, the UOC is the Mother Church, where they were baptized, confessed, and raised their children. It’s painful for them to leave the place where God and grace are present. An important circumstance is that not everyone accepts the OCU as canonical, so believers understand that transitioning would mean leaving the common Orthodox space. This is a serious issue for spiritually conscious people. And the transition to the OCU itself is often accompanied by political pressure, conflicts, and court cases. People do not want their church to become a battlefield. The question of the possibility of transition should be considered on canonical grounds, not on the political and emotional desires of some.
Met. Luke also detailed systematic state pressure on the UOC to join the schismatic OCU, including Security Service “recommendations” to attend the 2018 “unification council” that created the OCU, laws targeting the UOC, exclusion from military mobilization exemptions (while other religions receive them), and denial of church lease renewals. He argued that this discrimination backfires by creating resistance and exposing the OCU as a state instrument rather than a spiritual community.
Concerning patriotism, he contrasted those who claim patriotism while seizing churches with his priests who rescued people in Mariupol in March 2022, while OCU leader Dumenko fled to Greece and anti-UOC deputies escaped to Vienna. He defined true Christian patriotism as serving people in truth and justice, not aggression or national idolatry, quoting St. Nikolai (Velimirović): “Love for the homeland is one manifestation of love for God, if the homeland strives toward God.”
Concerning the possibility of Church unity in Ukraine, His Eminence explained:
A united Orthodox Church is possible if everyone is ready to place Christ above their ambitions and prejudices, be open to dialogue based on the foundation of canons, Church teaching and history, and love rather than political expediency, understand that true unity is not uniformity but harmony in diversity—we are different in form and traditions, but must be united in Christ.
Asked about the priests who have remained in the territories that have come under Russian control and whether they’re violating UOC statutes, the Metropolitan emphasized Christian love:
The reality of war is complex, and it can’t be approached only with the letter of the law, forgetting the spirit of Christian love and pastoral responsibility. Yes, the situation with priests who remained in uncontrolled territories is very difficult. They’re shepherds and first of all answer to God for their flocks. Many stayed not out of fear, but out of conscience, because they couldn’t abandon their people, leave and deprive parishioners of the Liturgy, Baptism, and last rites. St. Tikhon (Bellavin) said during the years of revolution: “If it’s not possible to preserve Church order, at least preserve love. God will forgive the violation of canons for the sake of love.” It’s the same now: no one has the right to judge those who stayed for the sake of serving the people, if they don’t preach evil, but continue to offer prayers, baptize children, comfort the elderly, and bury the dead. The Church isn’t a court, but a hospital. And the Lord judges not by forms, but by the heart. We need to pray for these priests, support them and remember that after the end of the war there will be church restoration and unity. Because even now they commemorate the bishop of Zaporozhye during divine services. The main thing is that they remain faithful to Christ and their conscience.
Finally, asked whether he has served panikhidas for UOC servicemen in Zaporozhye, Met. Luke explained that prayers are offered for anyone baptized in the canonical Orthodox Church.
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