On March 27, 2023, the hierarch of the Jerusalem Orthodox Church, Archbishop Theodosius of Sebaste, condemned the persecution against the UOC. This is reported by the publication “Romfeya”.

The hierarch condemned the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and noted that in the Jerusalem Patriarchate they are perceived “as persecution of the entire Church, since at the moment there is a threat of eviction of bishops, priests and monks from the Lavra in Kiev, an ancient historical monastery, well known as one of the largest monasteries of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

“The Ukrainian Orthodox Church, headed by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry, is subjected to systematic hostile campaigns, behind which there are many threats and attacks,” Bishop Theodosius noted, pointing out that “her message has always been to preserve love, brotherhood and peace.”

The Archbishop of the Jerusalem Church expressed the hope that such statements “would become a strong deterrent step for the Kyiv authorities” and demanded “urgent action from the entire Orthodox community to end these grave persecutions.”