Ukrainian Pastor Calls for “Re-Baptism” of UOC Faithful

Photo: Andrii Tyshchenko/Facebook

DNIPROPETROVSK OBLAST, UKRAINE — Ukrainian Protestant pastor Andriy Tyshchenko has sparked controversy by calling on believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) to undergo baptism again, claiming the rite is necessary to “sever ties with the Russian Federation.”

On December 29, 2025, Tyshchenko, senior bishop of Ukraine’s charismatic evangelical churches, published a Facebook post addressing Christians “who were baptized in the UOC,” urging them to receive a second baptism. He argued that infant baptisms, common in the Orthodox Church, are invalid because infants cannot personally make a promise of faith, citing the Apostle Paul’s reference to “one baptism” as justification.

In the comments under his post, Tyshchenko questioned the theological basis of infant baptism and emphasized his readiness to personally participate in re-baptizing UOC faithful, though he provided no canonical or recognized theological grounds for such actions. His statements have been widely criticized for contradicting Orthodox sacramental practice, which views baptism as valid regardless of the baptized individual’s personal consciousness at the time.

Previously, the UOJ reported that priest-blogger of the OCU had called traditional fasting restrictions a Russian invetion.