UOC episcopate appeals to Zelensky over revocation of Primate's citizenship

In connection with the information about the Decree of the President of Ukraine to revoke the citizenship of the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry, and the wide resonance of this news among believers, the hierarchs of the UOC have made a public appeal to the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, requesting a review of this decision. This was reported by the UOC Information and Educational Department on July 9, 2025.

The UOJ publishes the appeal in full:

OPEN LETTER OF THE EPISCOPATE
OF THE UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH
To the President of Ukraine
Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Your Excellency, Mr. President!

We, the bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, address you with words of sincere concern over the decision to revoke the citizenship of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine – a true patriot, citizen, and devoted son of our Ukrainian land.

His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry is not merely the Primate of a Church that serves God and unites millions of Ukrainian citizens, but also a true shepherd who, from the very first days of this tragic war, has spoken out with clarity, courage, and moral responsibility. In the earliest hours of the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he publicly denounced the aggression and called upon all the faithful to pray and stand in defense of our Homeland. He chose to remain steadfastly with his flock, offering them spiritual strength and giving his blessing to our Armed Forces as they took up arms to defend Ukraine.

With the blessing and under the spiritual leadership of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has, throughout the full-scale war, carried out an extraordinary breadth of humanitarian and charitable work. Over these challenging years, the Church has collected and delivered thousands of tons of life-saving aid, secured medical supplies, equipment, and evacuation vehicles worth hundreds of millions of hryvnias, and provided vital assistance to widows, orphans, and all those whose lives have been devastated by the war.

Our clergy and faithful serve in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, defending the integrity, sovereignty, and independence of our state. It is no exaggeration to say that, under the compassionate and unwavering leadership of Metropolitan Onuphry, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church stands today as one of the largest and most dedicated charitable organizations in our country.

We do not seek praise or acclaim for these efforts – they are the sacred obligations of our spiritual and civic calling. Yet the decision to strip His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry – a true son of Ukraine who has always shared, and continues to share, the destiny of his people – of his citizenship has inflicted profound pain and sorrow upon the hearts of millions of faithful members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

This is further underscored by public opinion polls, which this year ranked our Primate among the most influential figures in Ukrainian society.

The mission of the Church is not to serve passing political aims or shifting circumstances, but to reconcile humankind with God and bring peace to troubled hearts. The Church has stood, stands, and will forever stand unshaken, whatever storms may rage in the world. Its sacred purpose is to guide people toward salvation, to teach them to love God and their neighbor, and to live lives worthy of the noble name “Christian.” His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry has tirelessly proclaimed this calling in his sermons. He is no politician, but a man of deep prayer and spiritual counsel, as you yourself have witnessed in your personal meetings with him.

Metropolitan Onuphry has unfailingly embodied a spiritual and patriotic devotion inseparably bound to the fate and future of our beloved Homeland — Ukraine.

It was precisely for this reason that His Beatitude emerged as the initiator and guiding force behind the historic Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church convened in Feofania on May 27, 2022, which profoundly reshaped the ecclesiastical landscape of our nation. At this Council, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church solemnly resolved to sever its ties with the Moscow Patriarchate and declared its principled rejection of Patriarch Kirill’s stance on the war against Ukraine.

In his address marking the third anniversary of the Council, Metropolitan Onuphry stated: “Unfortunately, after the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow fully sided with the Russian political leadership, consistently justifying the military aggression against Ukraine.”

Since the first days of the war, fervent prayers for our native country, for its authorities, for our heroic defenders, for the defeat of Russian aggression, and for a lasting peace have been unceasingly offered at every liturgical service in all churches of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Today, in these dark and trying times, our country and our people need above all else peace, harmony, and unity – not division or discord. Millions of UOC parishioners who love and revere their Primate are an inseparable, living part of Ukrainian society.

Therefore, we most respectfully and earnestly appeal to you, Mr. President, to restore justice – a step that would not only reaffirm the strength and moral authority of the state, but also reflect your wisdom, compassion, and farsighted leadership.

On behalf of the millions of believers, clergy, and monastics of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, we implore you, Your Excellency, to uphold truth, honor, dignity, and the spiritual authority of one of the most respected pastors of our Church – and to reconsider the decision to revoke the Ukrainian citizenship of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine.

We offer our heartfelt prayers for you and your family.

May the Heavenly Powers guard you!

With deep respect,

THE EPISCOPATE OF THE UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH

Agathangel, Metropolitan of Odesa and Izmail, permanent member of the Holy Synod of the UOC, deputy of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the first convocation;

Meletiy, Metropolitan of Chernivtsi and Bukovyna;

Anthony, Metropolitan of Boryspil and Brovary;

Clement, Metropolitan of Nizhyn and Pryluky;

Augustine, Metropolitan of Bila Tserkva and Bohuslav;

Anatoliy, Metropolitan of Polissya and Sarny;

Agapit, Metropolitan of Mohyliv-Podilskyi and Sharhorod;

Philip, Metropolitan of Poltava and Myrhorod;

Alexei, Metropolitan of Balta and Ananiv;

Nikodim, Metropolitan of Zhytomyr and Novohrad-Volynskyi;

Volodymyr, Metropolitan of Volodymyr-Volynskyi and Kovel;

Yevlogiy, Metropolitan of Sumy and Okhtyrka;

Theodore, Metropolitan of Mukachevo and Uzhhorod;

Volodymyr, Metropolitan of Kamianske and Tsarychanka;

Philaret, Metropolitan of Lviv and Halych;

Longin, Metropolitan of Bancheny, Hero of Ukraine;

Varsonofiy, Metropolitan of Vinnytsia and Bar;

Alexei, Metropolitan of Voznesensk and Pervomaisk;

Boholep, Metropolitan of Oleksandriia and Svitlovodsk;

Victor, Metropolitan of Khmelnytskyi and Starokostiantyniv;

Oleksandr, Archbishop of Horodnytsia;

Jonah, Archbishop of Obukhiv;

Diodor, Archbishop of Yuzhne;

Victor, Archbishop of Artsyz;

Sergiy, Archbishop of Bolhrad;

Veniamin, Archbishop of Novi Sanzhary;

Veniamin, Archbishop of Khotyn;

Silvester, Archbishop of Bilohorodka;

Pimen, Archbishop of Rivne and Ostroh;

Spyridon, Archbishop of Dobropillia;

Ambrose, Archbishop of Zghurivka;

Nikodim, Archbishop of Liubech;

Kirill, Bishop of Byshiv;

Siluan, Bishop of Hertsa;

Theodosiy, Bishop of Ladan;

Сleopa, Bishop of Novoselytsia;

Nikita, Bishop of Ivano-Frankivsk and Kolomyia;

Jacob, Bishop of Drohobych;

Hilary, Bishop of Svaliava;

Arkadiy, Bishop of Hostomel;

Alipiy, Bishop of Tarutyne;

Anastasiy, Bishop of Ovidiopol;

Panteleimon, Bishop of Baturyn;

Philaret, Bishop of Baryshivka;

Job, Bishop of Kitsman."

As of July 9, the appeal has been signed by 45 hierarchs of the UOC, and the collection of signatures is ongoing.

As reported by the UOJ, media sources have claimed that Zelensky’s Office classified the decree revoking the citizenship of the UOC Primate.