Greece, January 21, 2026
Photo: vimaorthodoxias.gr
Greek Orthodox news site Vima Orthodoxias published a commentary on January 19 highlighting the “deafening” silence of Orthodox Church leaders regarding the persecution of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church under His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine.
The article, entitled states: “This is a crisis that concerns not only Ukraine, but the entire Orthodox world—and the silence of many primates is becoming deafening.”
The piece contrasts Met. Onuphry, who maintains a pastoral stance emphasizing peace while remaining in Kiev despite losing his citizenship, with the schismatic structure under Epiphany, which has been recognized by Constantinople but not by all Orthodox Churches and receives state support through the illegal transfer of churches and monasteries.
Vima Orthodoxias notes that the issue has reached international human rights forums including the OSCE and the UN High Commissioner’s office, and that discussions have occurred in the European Parliament.
The article questions why many primates choose silence or vague statements about peace while avoiding naming the persecution, citing fears of being seen as supporting Moscow, frozen pan-Orthodox relations, and acceptance of state sovereignty narratives.
Recall that the Society of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco, a pan-Orthodox group of American Orthodox Christians, is working to raise the issue of the persecution of the UOC on Capitol Hill. Its efforts quickly raised the ire of the schismatics and many adherents of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, which stands on the side of the persecutors, leading to an international propaganda campaign against the Society.
The Vima Orthodoxias article reads:
“Medieval” Video from Ukraine: Persecution of Onuphry’s Church and the Silence of the Primates
Ukraine: While international news coverage focuses on military operations and geopolitical balances, another, deeply troubling front remains on the sidelines: the systematic pressure against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), the canonical Church of the country, under Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine.
This is a crisis that concerns not only Ukraine, but the entire Orthodox world—and the silence of many primates is becoming deafening.
In recent years, and especially after 2024, the UOC has found itself at the center of a state policy presented as a matter of “national security,” but in practice leads to administrative and physical suppression. Law 3894-IX became the institutional vehicle, but its implementation has exceeded the limits of a simple legal regulation.
From Control to Violent Intervention
In many regions of Ukraine, raids on churches and monasteries are recorded, removals of clergy and pressures on parishes to change ecclesiastical jurisdiction. The images that have reached international organizations are more reminiscent of an operation of imposition than an administrative procedure. The issue has even been raised in OSCE forums, where human rights representatives warned that the invocation of security cannot justify collective punishments against religious communities.
Particular symbolic weight is held by the case of the Kiev Caves Lavra, one of the holiest centers of the Orthodox tradition. The brotherhood was faced with eviction orders and access restrictions, while the monks refused to leave the premises, emphasizing that this is not state property but a living spiritual organism.
Onuphry: Steadfastness Without Outcry
In this environment, the stance of Metropolitan Onuphry takes on special significance. Despite the revocation of his citizenship and public barbs against him, he remains in Kiev, avoiding any political confrontation. His discourse remains pastoral, emphasizing peace and the avoidance of fratricidal conflict.
For millions of faithful, Onuphry is not an “obstacle to national unity,” as presented by official lips, but a point of reference in an era of generalized insecurity. His commitment to canonical order and his refusal to legitimize divisions through state imposition make him troublesome for those seeking rapid “ecclesiastical reorganization.”
Epiphany’s Structure and State Support
Meanwhile, the structure under Epiphany, which has been recognized by the Phanar but has not been accepted by all Orthodox Churches, appears to be strengthened through state interventions. Churches and monasteries removed from the UOC are handed over to this structure, often without the consent of local parishes.
This fact deepens the schism and transforms the ecclesiastical issue into a social conflict, with faithful finding themselves opposed to one another. Despite relevant reports to the Council of Europe, substantive interventions are absent.
Why Are the Primates Silent?
The most troubling element is the stance of a large part of global Orthodoxy. Many primates choose silence or vague formulations about “peace,” avoiding naming the persecution. The reasons are multiple:
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the fear that any criticism toward Kiev will be interpreted as political support for Moscow
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the frozen climate in pan-Orthodox relations, which doesn’t allow for a collective response
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the acceptance of the narrative about “state sovereignty,” which shifts the problem outside ecclesiastical responsibility
However, this stance creates a dangerous precedent: if a canonical Church can be pressured or dissolved by state decision, what guarantee exists for the rest?
Europe and Human Rights
The case hasn’t gone unnoticed in human rights circles. Reports have reached the Office of the UN High Commissioner, while discussions are taking place in subdued tones in the European Parliament. Despite all this, there has been no clear political pressure on the Ukrainian government.
Religious freedom, a fundamental European value, appears to be yielding to geopolitical expediencies.
A Test for All of Orthodoxy
The Church of Onuphry hasn’t disappeared. Despite the prohibitions and pressures, the faithful continue to pray, often in temporary spaces, basements or courtyards. This endurance shows that the issue cannot be resolved by decrees.
The question now posed concerns not only Ukraine, but the future of Orthodoxy: Will it remain a Church of freedom and conscience, or will it tacitly accept that state expediencies can determine its canonical order? The primates, sooner or later, will be called to answer.
The article also includes links to several resources concerning the persecution of the Church, and states:
History has proven that Churches that are persecuted ultimately emerge stronger. However, the plundering of relics and violence against monks in Ukraine in 2026 constitute an indelible stain on contemporary history.
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