On June 11, Metropolitan Feodosiy of Cherkasy and Kaniv of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) made an appeal to the United Nations, seeking intervention to prevent a schismatic group from seizing the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel in Cherkasy. The Metropolitan made this plea outside a courthouse before a scheduled hearing for his case. The press service of the Cherkasy Diocese released a video of his appeal.

Metropolitan Feodosiy highlighted that a gathering of the alleged cathedral parish community was planned for the same time as his court hearing. He asserted that this assembly would involve individuals with no real connection to the church.

"This is a fictitious meeting, happening without the rector, which is me, and without the genuine parishioners, some of whom are here. It is organized by unknown parties in a secular building, a cultural center. This assembly will have no legal standing," stressed Metropolitan Feodosiy.

The Metropolitan reminded everyone that both the cathedral and the land it occupies legally belong to the "Cherkasy Diocese of the UOC" as per the state act, and no assembly, especially one held by a fictitious community, can decide its fate.

Following Metropolitan Feodosiy's statement, the planned assembly regarding the cathedral was postponed indefinitely. The Metropolitan informed the faithful who had come to support him during the court hearing about this development.

"Brothers and sisters! There is at least one benefit from today's performance. Because we publicly announced the planned fictitious meeting of the so-called 'religious community,' they got scared and postponed it," said Metropolitan Feodosiy.

However, the hierarch cautioned that the opponents of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church have not abandoned the idea of holding such a meeting, and it could happen any day.

"But today, by informing the public, including the international community, in advance, we thwarted their attempts for a fictitious meeting. So, we have a reprieve until the next time they plan to gather," concluded Metropolitan Feodosiy.

Photo: Telegram channel of the Cherkasy Diocese / t.me/Cherkasy_Blagovestnyk