OCU cleric appears a "victim" in all cases against Metropolitan Theodosiy

Metropolitan Theodosiy of Cherkasy and Kaniv. Photo: Screenshot from the video of the Cherkasy Eparchy

Three criminal cases have been opened against Metropolitan Theodosiy of Cherkasy and Kaniv, with former UOC priest Iosif Zasansky, who backslid into the schism and is banned from priesthood, now a cleric of the OCU, and his son Nazariy, a chaplain of the OCU, acting as 'victims' in all cases. This was revealed by the bishop during a court hearing on May 7th regarding a new criminal case against him.

The Cherkasy Metropolitan noted that currently two criminal proceedings have been opened against him under Part 1 of Article 161 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, and one under Part 1 of Article 161 and Parts 2-3 of Article 436 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

"In all the aforementioned criminal proceedings, the Zasansky family – father and son – are the 'victims.' I believe that this persecution by the Zasansky family against me, as the Metropolitan of Cherkasy and Kaniv, is due to their hostile attitude towards me as the head of the Cherkasy Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, as well as purely selfish motives," said the bishop.

According to the Metropolitan, the Zasansky family's actions are driven by animosity towards him because of his position regarding the OCU. Additionally, there are selfish motives involved: after the forcible seizure of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos Convent in November 2023 with the help of his son, Zasansky-father effectively became its "head and master".

The hierarch recounted that Iosif Zasansky was banned from priesthood in November 2023. In January 2024, Zasansky junior turned to the Security Service of Ukraine, accusing the Metropolitan of spreading "false information" about the raider seizure of the shrine.

Metropolitan Theodosiy is convinced that these cases are fabricated with the aim of removing him from the administration of the Cherkasy Eparchy of the UOC and seizing the eparchy's churches.

He notes that the same witnesses and experts appear in his cases: "It feels like they work for the Security Service of Ukraine in the Cherkasy region or owe it something."

The Metropolitan does not admit his guilt and hopes for an impartial consideration of the case by the court.

"I consider the presented indictment to be unfounded accusations, indicative of political repression by modern law enforcement agencies against clergy and believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church," said the ruling bishop of the Cherkasy Eparchy.

As the UOJ reported, a provocation occurred in Cherkasy during a court hearing regarding the hierarch of the UOC.

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