A series of meetings between representatives of several Orthodox Churches and U.S. lawmakers took place in Washington this week, with discussions focused on allegations of persecution of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) and the broader issue of protecting religious freedom. Following the talks, several members of Congress signaled their willingness to raise the matter in upcoming sessions. Additional meetings in support of the UOC are expected in December.

On November 19, a delegation of Orthodox clergy met on Capitol Hill with Republican Congressman Darrell Issa, the vice chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and an Orthodox Christian himself. Participants said Issa showed a strong understanding of the challenges faced by believers in regions marked by religious conflict.

The delegation included representatives from five Orthodox jurisdictions in the United States — the Antiochian, Serbian, and Constantinopolitan Churches, as well as the Orthodox Church in America and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR). They briefed the congressman on church closures, pressure on clergy, and what they described as violations of the rights of believers in Ukraine. Delegates emphasized that they were not opposing U.S. military assistance to Ukraine, but insisted that foreign funds must not be used to contribute to religious persecution.

The meeting followed earlier talks held on November 18 with Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna. According to Luna, who wrote about the discussion on social media, she raised concerns at the White House about imprisoned clergy members and journalists who had reported on alleged violations against the UOC. Republican youth leader Katherine Whiteford noted that the issue of pressure on Church representatives had become one of the central themes of the dialogue.

The discussions sparked a public exchange between lawmakers: Congressman Joe Wilson questioned whether foreign influence might be behind the initiatives. Luna sharply rejected the claim, stating that the issue was not political but humanitarian, involving “people being imprisoned for preaching their faith.” She also announced plans to gather hundreds of Orthodox Christians in Congress in December to continue the conversation.

Meanwhile, Metropolitan Nicholas, First Hierarch of ROCOR, arrived in Washington for additional meetings with State Department officials and members of Congress. In a statement published on the ROCOR website, he asserted that the Ukrainian government was violating the religious freedom of its citizens and called for international support.

Orthodox organizations say they intend to continue their outreach to U.S. policymakers. The inter-Orthodox delegation met not only with Congresswoman Luna and Congressman Issa, but also with Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy Sarah Rogers and former Congressman Mark Walker — Donald Trump’s nominee for Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom. Part of the delegation also held talks with Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi.

According to the Union of Orthodox Journalists, congressional interest in the situation surrounding the UOC is growing, and the issue of religious freedom in Ukraine is expected to be taken up soon in hearings of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.