Metropolitan Theodosiy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church was beaten and pepper-sprayed during the storming of a church in Cherkasy

A video showing the attack on Metropolitan Theodosios of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church during the storming of a church in Cherkasy by supporters of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine was posted by MP Artem Dmytruk.

The video shows the clergyman being struck and pepper spray being used against him.

Dmytruk claims that the metropolitan was diagnosed with “a concussion, first-degree corneal burns, and skin burns.” He also reported that this morning, officers from the Security Service of Ukraine visited Theodosios’ home with a petition to increase his pre-trial restrictions from nighttime house arrest to 24-hour house arrest.

In 2023, Metropolitan Theodosios was put on trial for justifying Russian aggression. It’s worth noting that Dmytruk himself fled abroad, stating that he had faced assassination attempts for supporting the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which allegedly continued even after he left the country. Additionally, he was detained in London but was later released and even participated in a law enforcement committee meeting via video link. However, he was eventually excluded.

Earlier, it was reported that supporters of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine forcefully seized St. Michael’s Cathedral in Cherkasy.

During the night, activists, many dressed in military uniforms, entered the church, but it was soon recaptured by parishioners of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, led by Metropolitan Theodosios. While retreating, one of the supporters of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine reportedly fired a traumatic weapon and used pepper spray. Although the police were present, they did not intervene.

Later, representatives of the National Corps launched a second assault and eventually took control of the church.