Metropolitan of the Jerusalem Church Strongly Condemns Actions of Ukrainian Authorities: Persecutions Like in Soviet Times

NICOSIA —The Exarch of the Jerusalem Patriarchate in Cyprus, Metropolitan Timotheos of Vostra, has sharply condemned the actions of the Ukrainian authorities at the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, describing them as “horrific deeds” that deeply offend the Orthodox faith and piety, and which, in their character, he said, are comparable to the crimes of the Soviet godless regime.

In a statement to UOJ (SPZh), Metropolitan Timotheos drew particular attention to the manipulations carried out by employees of the Lavra’s museum complex with the relics of the Venerable Fathers of the Caves, calling these acts “the greatest sacrilege” and “a mockery of the holy foundations of the faith.” Such actions, he said, awaken in the people painful memories of the Church’s sufferings during the dark period of Bolshevik rule in the Soviet Union.

State officials no longer stop at seizing churches, obstructing worship, and intimidating the clergy and faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. They are now degrading the very essence of Orthodox piety by desecrating the holy relics.

The Metropolitan emphasized that the authority's treatment of what are arguably the holiest items in the Slavic Orthodox world represents a grievous blow to the spiritual conscience of every believer.

He added that the fact all this is taking place under the institutions of a state that calls itself democratic, but under the pretext of cultural management of the holy sites, is a deeply troubling paradox.

The Metropolitan of Vostra warned that such actions can only be understood as “an insult to the memory and honor of God’s saints” and as “a flagrant violation of the freedom of religion” of the Orthodox people in Ukraine. He asserted that the actions of the authorities are “ungodly and impious” and that the Church “unequivocally condemns them” because “they wound the Body of Christ.”

In conclusion, the Metropolitan issued an appeal to the international community and to human rights organizations to respond to what he described as the “ongoing sacrilege and shame” occurring in the Lavra.

With fervent prayer to the Lord for the enlightenment of those who commit these acts, I appeal to all people of goodwill to oppose such treatment of the holy places. Peace among nations is possible only if freedom of conscience, religious traditions, truth, and justice are respected.

Earlier, UOJ reported that employees of the Lavra’s museum complex have been carelessly handling the relics of the Venerable Fathers.

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