Police Target Defenders of Cherkasy Cathedral Instead of Aggressive Invaders

Cherkasy, Cherkasy Province, Ukraine, January 31, 2025

From the attack on the Cherkasy Cathedral in October. Photo: religionnews     

Police in the Ukrainian province of Cherkasy have decided to bring charges against the clergy and faithful of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church who attempted to defend their Archangel Michael Cathedral from a violent takeover in October.

Meanwhile, those who caused severe bodily harm to a number of people, Ukrainian Hierarch Appeals to Patriarch Bartholomew Following Brutal Church AttackOn October 17, one of the bloodiest takeovers took place in Cherkasy, when the schismatics seized the Archangel Michael Cathedral and violently attacked His Eminence Metropolitan Theodosy, as well as Orthodox clergy and parishioners.

“>including His Eminence Metropolitan Theodosy of Cherkasy, and desecrated the holy place with the use of weapons, continue to walk free.

“The bloody massacre orchestrated by OCU-hired militants at the UOC’s Archangel Michael Cathedral in Cherkasy has shocked the world. The blood and tears of dozens of injured Orthodox Christians cannot be washed from the hands of these raiders and criminals,” writes the First Cossack Telegram channel.

“They have decided to cleanse themselves of the horror they perpetrated during the assault. And they chose the most shameful and cynical means to do so.”

So far, at least four people—two priests and two laymen—have been officially notified of suspicion for hooliganism. According to the channel, investigators are trying to expedite the cases. The case against Fr. Roman Gorkavenko, who is alleged to have used pepper spray against the violent invaders, has already been sent to court, and he has been placed under nighttime house arrest.

The Orthodox Christians face from 3 to 7 years imprisonment.

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