Italian Outlet Highlights Persecution of Ukrainian Orthodox Church

Metropolitan Arseniy. Photo: uoc-news.church

ROME — Italian outlet L’Identità has published a report alleging persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), describing it as the “canonical Orthodox Church, unquestionably the first by number of faithful,” and claiming it is being subjected to systematic harassment by Ukrainian authorities.

The publication states that churches have been seized, clergy arbitrarily arrested, and the canonical Church effectively outlawed by parliament. It cites criticism from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, who said the ban is “inconsistent with international law” and constitutes a serious restriction on religious freedom. 

A key emphasis of the report is the case of Metr. Arseniy, whom L’Identità describes as a “well-known and respected religious figure in eastern Ukraine.” According to the publication, the hierarch was detained by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) following a sermon delivered in September 2023. In that homily, the outlet states, he “simply lamented military checkpoints in the Kramatorsk region that prevented numerous pilgrims from reaching the monastery.” As a result of the charges brought against him, he now faces a potential prison sentence of up to eight years.

The outlet also references remarks by U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna, and journalist Tucker Carlson, all of whom have criticized Kyiv’s actions.

Previously, the UOJ reported that Dumenko claimed that reports of the persecution of the UOC are Russian disinformation.

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