Serbian Bishop Visits Sumy Diocese to Support UOC Hierarch

SUMY, UKRAINE — Metr. Gregory of Düsseldorf and All Germany of the Serbian Orthodox Church visited the Sumy Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) on Tuesday and Wednesday, expressing solidarity with Metr. Evlogy of Sumy as the Ukrainian hierarch continues to face legal proceedings and offering encouragement to clergy and faithful living amid the challenges of war.

During the visit, Metr. Gregory met with Metr. Evlogy and assured him of his prayers and brotherly support. The Serbian hierarch also conveyed words of encouragement to the clergy and laity of the Sumy Diocese, which has continued its pastoral ministry despite the hardships created by the ongoing conflict. Ukrainian authorities opened an investigation into Metr. Evlogy in 2024 following comments he made regarding support for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) among the Local Orthodox Churches.

While in Sumy, Metr. Gregory visited the city's Transfiguration Cathedral and Holy Trinity Cathedral, where he prayed with the faithful and learned more about the diocese's current ministries. In recognition of his visit and support, Metr. Evlogy presented his guest with a copy of the Malocherneche Bread of Life Icon of Christ the Savior, an episcopal cross, and a Panagia, and awarded him the Metropolitan of Sumy commendation.

Metr. Gregory thanked his host for the warm reception and prayed that the clergy and faithful would be strengthened in their faith and granted peace. Having previously served in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the difficult post-war years, Metr. Gregory drew upon his own pastoral experience of rebuilding church life after conflict, offering both practical encouragement and a visible sign of support for the Sumy Diocese.

Following his visit, the popular Russian blog "Pravblog" criticized Metr. Gregory, saying a "Western and Vatican agent" had established contact with the UOC.

In the post, Pravblog refers to the Serbian hierarch as an ecumenist who "is said to have developed close relationships with both government officials and criminal syndicates in the Balkans."

The anonymous blog accused him of "overseeing" Montenegrins who push for autocephaly, and stated:

So this is not happening by chance. One autocephalist recognizes another from afar—especially if he is close to the West and the Vatican.

And considering that Catholic forces in Ukraine made significant efforts toward obtaining the tomos for the "OCU," the situation appears quite intriguing. Is the autocephalist wing of the UOC exploring the possibility of reaching an agreement with the West and the Vatican regarding its future? Incidentally, in the eyes of the Roman Catholic Church, that future has long since been determined: the Orthodox of Ukraine should become part of a Uniate structure (formed on the basis of Dumenko's organization, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, and possibly part of the UOC).

No evidence was provided for Pravblog's claims.

Previously, the UOJ reported that Metr. Gabriel defended the UOC in an appeal to a Ukrainian court.