The hierarch of the Jerusalem Patriarchate, Archbishop Theodosius of Sevastia, stated during a meeting with the delegation of the WCC in Jerusalem on April 25, 2023 that all Christian Churches in the world, together with the World Council of Churches, need to stop “truly terrible crimes” against the UOC. It is reported by Pravlife with reference to orthodoxie.com.

“Orthodoxy has existed on Ukrainian soil for more than a thousand years, and now this land itself is suffering from war and incessant violence,” said Bishop Theodosius.

According to him, the real goal of the current pressure on the UOC is “to promote an alternative non-canonical structure” created “by agreement between Western countries and the authorities of Kyiv.”

“It is obvious that the Kyiv authorities are doing everything to transfer the Lavra to the use of a schismatic structure, the canonicity of which we cannot recognize,” Archbishop Theodosius said.

He recalled that the hierarchs of the UOC sent many messages to various church and legal organizations of the world. “We hope that they will be delivered and taken into account in order to end the persecution,” the archpastor expressed hope.

“This monastery preserves the relics of many venerable fathers, divine services are unceasingly performed in it and prayers are offered up. It is the center of spiritual life, but by no means a museum,” said Archbishop Theodosius.