Cherkasy, Cherkasy Province, Ukraine, February 28, 2024
Photo: pravlife.org
Another hierarch of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church is suffering from deteriorating health under the pressure of the state’s campaign of persecution.
“Due to the deterioration of his health caused by a hypertensive crisis, Metropolitan Theodosy of Cherkasy and Kanev was urgently hospitalized for inpatient treatment at the insistence of doctors,” the Diocese of Cherkasy reported on Tuesday, February 27.
Persecuted Metropolitan Longin undergoes another heart surgeryThough officially recognized as a Hero of Ukraine for having adopted hundreds of orphans, the state now considers him an enemy because he staunchly remains within the Orthodox Church.
“>His Eminence Metropolitan Longin of Bancheny has also suffered repeated severe health problems since the state began its persecution against him, as has Persecuted abbot of Kiev Caves Lavra undergoes emergency heart surgeryThe Metropolitan underwent surgery on his heart vessels and is currently under doctor supervision at the hospital.”>His Eminence Metropolitan Pavel of Vyshgorod, the abbot of the Kiev Caves Lavra, and Prayer request: persecuted Ukrainian bishop undergoes heart surgeryHis Eminence Metropolitan Jonathan of Tulchin and Bratslav, a hierarch of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church who has been subjected to searches and serious accusations by the Ukrainian Security Services (SBU) lately, underwent an emergency open-heart surgery today.”>His Eminence Metropolitan Jonathan of Tulchin.
Met. Theodosy initially suffered a hypertensive attack and attack of angina pectoris and had to receive treatment in the hospital on February 22, the day the Ukrainian Security Service decided to conduct another search of his home and to inform him of yet another investigation against him. There are now four separate charges being pursued against him, for supposedly inciting religious enmity and supporting Russia.
The canonical hierarch spent Persecuted Ukrainian hierarch returns to ministry after 8 months of round-the-clock house arrestAccording to today’s decision of the Cherkasy Court, Met. Theodosy now has a great deal more freedom, though he remains under nighttime house arrest.
“>eight months last year in round-the-clock house arrest, and is still under nighttime house arrest.
The Metropolitan is one of the most vocal UOC hierarchs in terms of fighting for the Church’s and its faithful’s human rights. He has addressed the Persecuted UOC hierarch addresses UN Human Rights CouncilThanks to his speech, Met. Theodosy received the status of a UN human rights defender, which allows the organization’s resources to be used for his protection.
“>UN’s Human Rights Council, and is among the founding members of the Hierarchs of Local Churches come together to form human rights groupThe press release on the creation of the association notes that UN representatives have repeatedly raised concerns about the violations of the rights of the UOC and its faithful.”>Church Against Xenophobia and Religious Discrimination human rights group.
The latest search of his home came just a day after he had an extensive meeting with the director of British Parliamentary Committee for International Religious Freedom, informing her about the widespread persecution of the Church, and with Robert Amsterdam, the D.C.-based lawyer who is representing the persecuted Church pro bono.
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