Archbishop Theodosios of Sebastia calls for an end to persecution of UOC

Archbishop Theodosios of Sebastia. Photo: orthodoxianewsagency

The hierarch of the Jerusalem Orthodox Church, Archbishop Theodosios of Sebastia (Atallah Hanna), sharply condemned today's situation surrounding the UOC. His words are fully quoted below:

"Jerusalem – the Jerusalem Patriarchate, in the context of recent events, considers it offensive and disappointing that the Orthodox Church in Ukraine is persecuted and oppressed by state structures, despite all the appeals and calls that have been made.

Persecution of bishops and priests continues, not to mention the illegal seizure of monasteries and churches, as well as attempts to pressure the Orthodox Church in Ukraine. Recently, we have received reports of persecution faced by His Eminence Theodosiy, Metropolitan of Cherkasy and Kaniv from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. We express our disapproval and condemnation of this unjustified, irresponsible, and unreasonable persecution faced by the Orthodox Church in Ukraine, which is a legitimate Church led by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry.

In the 21st century, when eulogies are sung to human rights and democracy by political leaders of the West sing, the Orthodox Church in Ukraine, which is interwoven with the history, heritage, and identity of this country, is concurrently persecuted.

What our brethren – metropolitans, clergy, and church communities belonging to this fraternal Church in Ukraine – are experiencing can be called religious persecution and discrimination based on religious affiliation, and this is an issue that should be kept under permanent review of all human rights organizations in our world.

We call upon and demand international human rights organizations to condemn the discrimination faced by the UOC and take measures to cease and desist this unacceptable persecution from a human rights, spiritual, social, and moral perspective.

As regards Jerusalem, we express solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the Orthodox Church in Ukraine, notably with the bishops who are under attack, and demand an end to this cruel persecution so that the Church in Ukraine can fulfill its ministry freely and unhindered."

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the hierarch of Jerusalem called for resistance to the tyranny of the persecutors of the UOC.

Read also