The OCU filed a complaint against a UOC metropolitan over the term "Great Patriotic War"

The Cherkasy Diocese of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) has published an official denunciation of Metropolitan Theodosius of Cherkasy and Kaniv, accusing him of using "Soviet rhetoric" and the term "Great Patriotic War." The move was prompted by a photo report regarding the hierarch's visit to the Korsun region on May 9, which had been published by the diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC).

In its post, the OCU labeled the concept of the "Great Patriotic War" a "Soviet propaganda construct" and a tool for spreading "Russian World" narratives. The authors of the publication also highlighted the fact that criminal proceedings have been initiated against Metropolitan Theodosius and used the derogatory phrase "odious bishop-professor" to describe parishioners kissing his hands. The OCU declared that the UOC’s publication was "no longer about remembrance" and urged believers not to attend the churches of the canonical Church.

Human rights organizations view this denunciation as yet another instance of systemic pressure exerted on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The mere use of the term "Great Patriotic War"—a historical term deeply embedded in the memories of millions—is being used as a pretext for the public harassment of a hierarch who is already facing criminal charges. In essence, the schismatic organization is openly demanding that the authorities take punitive action against the clergyman for his patriotic stance.

Human rights advocates note that pressure on the UOC’s Cherkasy Diocese has intensified in recent years: the prosecutor's office has attempted to seize churches through the courts, and military recruitment officers have detained priests; now, this has been compounded by public harassment from the OCU, which is effectively acting as an informer. Human rights organizations are calling on the international community to pay attention to the practice of using schismatic structures to persecute the canonical Church and its clergy.