Archbishop Theodosius of Sebaste (Patriarchate of Jerusalem) issued a statement demanding an immediate end to the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
"Today we are especially experiencing the heartbreaking suffering and pain due to the war in Gaza and Lebanon. We fervently pray and ask God that the hostilities end as soon as possible, the bloodshed stops and the destruction stops," Archbishop Theodosius of Sebaste said in a statement posted on a social network.
At the same time, the Jerusalem Orthodox Church is concerned about the situation in Ukraine. "The persecution to which the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is subjected by the Ukrainian authorities has not stopped yet, but is only increasing every day, accompanied by cruelty, aggression and barbaric actions," the archpastor testified. All these actions are carried out with the support of the so-called PCU, created to replace the only canonical and legitimate Orthodox Church on Ukrainian soil, headed by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy.
The seizure of churches and property of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, attacks on bishops and clergy do not stop. "The Ukrainian authorities continue to brutally persecute the oldest Church founded in Ukraine with the advent of Christianity there," writes Archbishop Theodosius. So, recently there was a seizure of the Archangel Michael Cathedral in the Cherkasy diocese, during which the ruling bishop was severely beaten.
"Again and again, we would like to express our full solidarity and deep support for the only canonical Orthodox Church of Ukraine, headed by Metropolitan Onufriy, and strongly condemn the actions against it by the Kiev authorities, who act in cooperation with the newly created organization falsely and unreasonably called the "Orthodox Church of Ukraine." We offer our prayers to the Lord so that he protects and supports the Martyr Church, which testifies to the truth in Ukraine, strengthens its Primate, metropolitans and all the priesthood, and also preserves the Ukrainian people and all churches in these lands devastated by the war, for the cessation of which we so fervently pray," the statement of the Archbishop of Sebaste says. Theodosia.
"How long will the persecution of this sister Church continue?! The attacks on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church are addressed to all Orthodox Churches of the world, and all of them should make joint efforts to stop aggressive actions and persecution of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church," Bishop Theodosius urges.
The bishop once again called on the UN, human rights and international organizations "to take responsibility and pay more attention to the persecution to which the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is subjected, showing respect for the antiquity of the presence and history of this Church."