UOC priest: Church persecutors to face both earthly and God’s judgment

The persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church by the OCU and the authorities that support it will not last forever, and the persecutors will face both earthly and God’s judgment, said Father Dimitry Sydor, the rector of the Uzhhorod Holy Cross Cathedral of the UOC, in his sermon.

"Those who forcefully drive people into the OCU cause division, separation, tears, bloodshed, disruption of peace, and therefore harm the state," the priest said. "We elected legislators to rule wisely, but they have gone out of control and do as they please. They rush to cause trouble. But we believe that Christ founded our Church, the Holy Spirit guides our Church, and no persecution lasts forever. Any persecutions will eventually be stopped, and the persecutors will face both earthly and divine judgment. We just need to wait a little."

Father Dimitry noted that opponents of the UOC are trying to rename it as the "Russian Church in Ukraine" and are preparing a bill for its liquidation on the pretext that it is allegedly connected with Russia.

"But they have a big problem: in Ukraine, every parish is a legal entity. Therefore, if the appeal (against the decision to rename the UOC) is not accepted or the law on deregistering our Church comes into force, each parish will have the right to appeal, to file a cassation," the priest said.

According to him, the OCU is preparing its statutes for each parish of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in order to seize their property. The priest emphasized that he and the members of the Holy Cross community have invested significant resources and efforts in its construction.

"And suddenly, some vandals should come and take away the property?" the rector asks. "In a democratic state that is moving towards Europe?"

"We must do everything possible to prevent the godless ones, who act under the guise of other religions or hide behind the name of 'supporters of the OCU,' from running wild. People without faith, often non-Christians, hide behind the name 'supporters of the OCU'," Father Dimitry said.

He reminded that until 1945, the Orthodox parishes of Transcarpathia were part of the Serbian Church and did not rule out that in the event of the UOC's prohibition, they would ask the SOC to accept them back under its omophorion. "But we will do this only if all possibilities for saving the Ukrainian Church are exhausted," the priest added.

Father Dimitry emphasized that Orthodox Transcarpathians do not want to join the OCU because "there is no legitimate priesthood there, the Tomos was unlawfully granted, and it does not speak of a separate Church but only of a Turkish Metropolis."

"We don't want to leave the Church of Christ. For if you leave the Church of Christ, you may have a golden confession, but you will not inherit the Kingdom of God," the priest said.

As reported, in March 2023, the police informed Father Dimitry Sydor of the suspicion under Part 1 of Article 161 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (incitement to religious hatred). The Uzhhorod District Court imposed a preventive measure on the priest in the form of personal restraint. He was prohibited from leaving the city, communicating with witnesses in his case, required to surrender his passport, report changes of residence and employment and appear before investigators, prosecutors and courts on short notice.