UOC hierarch: Govt using holy relics that Lenin took away from believers
From a legal standpoint, many churches today belong to the state, but morally, this is unjust, explains Metropolitan Theodosiy.
Historically, the religious buildings currently owned by the Ukrainian authorities were constructed by the Church, whose successors are the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). These Orthodox shrines were seized and nationalized between 1918 and 1920 when the Bolsheviks came to power and began persecuting religion, says Metropolitan Theodosiy of Cherkasy and Kaniv in an interview with "Suspilne" on 2 April 2025.
According to the Metropolitan, “Grandfather Lenin took them away, and the current government is using them”, referring to the Lavras and churches, particularly the cathedrals in Kaniv and Moshny.
“During 70 years of Soviet rule, nothing was returned to us. But after the collapse of the USSR and the revival of spiritual life in the country, a restitution law should have been adopted to return Church property as was done in other former socialist bloc countries such as Poland, Slovakia, and the Baltic states,” he said.
However, he noted that in Ukraine, over the past 30 years, the authorities have not only failed to pass a restitution law but have also kept religious buildings under state ownership. Today, he says, these properties are simply being manipulated: taken from some, handed over to others.
“Yes, according to Ukrainian law, these architectural monuments now belong to the state, but from a moral point of view, this is unjust,” he stressed.
The UOC hierarch believes that once law and order are restored in Ukraine, not only will criminal proceedings be initiated against those currently committing crimes, but a restitution law that returns to the Church everything that was looted by the Bolsheviks will also be adopted.
As reported by the UOJ, we must stand up for our churches and show that we exist, declared Metropolitan Theodosiy.
