Boxer Oleksandr Usyk supported the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and stated that he would remain its parishioner

World boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk supported the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and stated that he remains one of its parishioners.

The Ukrainian athlete made this statement in an interview with NV.

Commenting on the law passed by the Verkhovna Rada, which paves the way for the potential ban of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Usyk stated that this church has no ties with the Russian Orthodox Church.

“I attend the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. We do not have the Moscow Patriarchate documented here. Let them show where the Moscow Patriarchate is documented,” Usyk said.

The athlete added that he will continue to attend this church.

“I am an Orthodox Christian, period,” Usyk declared.

Earlier, Usyk also defended the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and supported its leader, Metropolitan Onufriy.

Yesterday, Pope Francis, commenting on the Ukrainian law that makes it possible to ban the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Ukraine, urged that “no Christian church should be banned, either directly or indirectly.”