Synod of Czech Lands and Slovakia Voices Alarm Over Persecution of UOC
Hierarchs call for protection of religious freedom amid ongoing conflict.
BRATISLAVA — The Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia convened in Bratislava on Nov. 11, 2025, expressing deep concern over what it described as the systematic legal and physical persecution of the faithful, clergy, and hierarchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), according to UOJ’s Czech bureau.
In a formal statement, Synod members conveyed solidarity with all those suffering amid the war in Ukraine and underscored that the freedom of religion is a fundamental human right. They stressed that freedom of faith is inseparable from human dignity and must be safeguarded regardless of political or military circumstances.
Previously, UOJ reported that the schismatic Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) expanded into the Czech Republic, violating the Tomos of Autocephaly.
