Orthodox Group Gathers in Washington to Demand End to Ukrainian Government Persecution of Orthodox Church
A pan Orthodox coalition convened in Washington, D.C., to raise international awareness about what participants describe as systematic persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church by the Ukrainian government through legal and administrative pressure designed to eliminate the country's largest religious body.
The gathering brought together Orthodox Christian leaders, legal experts, and religious freedom advocates to document mounting restrictions, property seizures, clergy arrests, and legislative efforts targeting the UOC since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Participants emphasized that the church faces existential threats not from external enemies but from Ukrainian authorities weaponizing patriotism to justify religious persecution.
The UOC, Ukraine's historically dominant Orthodox body, has faced accusations of maintaining ties to the Russian Orthodox Church and serving Moscow's interests despite the UOC declaring independence from Russian ecclesiastical authority and condemning the invasion. Ukrainian government officials and rival religious groups argue the UOC represents a security threat requiring aggressive state intervention.
Legal pressure includes proposed legislation to ban the UOC entirely, confiscation of church properties including historic monasteries, criminal investigations of clergy for alleged collaboration with Russia, and administrative obstacles preventing UOC congregations from operating freely. Dozens of UOC priests have been detained, with some facing prosecution on charges religious freedom advocates characterize as politically motivated.
The Washington gathering documented specific cases of UOC parishes forcibly transferred to rival Orthodox jurisdictions, clergy beaten or intimidated by nationalist groups, and worshippers harassed for attending UOC services.
Participants argued that Ukrainian authorities are exploiting wartime conditions to accomplish longstanding goals of subordinating the church to state control and eliminating religious competition.
Orthodox leaders at the gathering emphasized that defending the UOC is not defending Russia but defending religious freedom principles that prohibit governments from determining which churches can exist and which must be destroyed.
They noted that international religious freedom organizations have expressed concern about Ukraine's treatment of the UOC while mainstream Western media largely ignores the persecution.
The coalition called on the U.S. government to condition military and financial aid to Ukraine on respect for religious freedom, to pressure Ukrainian authorities to cease persecution of the UOC, and to recognize that defending democracy requires protecting religious minorities even during wartime.
THE CRUSADER'S OPINION
Ukraine is persecuting its largest church. While fighting Russia.
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church declared independence from Moscow. Condemned the invasion. Still faces government destruction.
Because when governments decide which churches are loyal and which are threats, religious freedom dies.
Ukraine wants Western support for democracy while crushing religious dissent.
That's not democracy. That's authoritarianism with better public relations.
Orthodox Christians gathering in Washington are doing what the West refuses: calling out persecution regardless of geopolitical convenience.
You can support Ukraine against Russian aggression and oppose Ukrainian persecution of Christians.
Unless defending religious freedom only matters when it's politically useful.
TAKE ACTION
Contact U.S. State Department: Phone: +1 (202) 647-4000 Message: "Ukraine is persecuting the Ukrainian Orthodox Church through property seizures, clergy arrests, and proposed bans. U.S. aid should be conditioned on respecting religious freedom. Pressure Ukraine to stop targeting Christians."
Support Religious Freedom Advocacy: International Religious Freedom Roundtable Website: https://www.religiousfreedomroundtable.org Advocates for persecuted religious communities globally
Contact Your Representatives: Tell them Ukrainian persecution of Orthodox Christians is unacceptable and U.S. support should require religious freedom protections.
Start a Conversation: Ask: "If Ukraine bans its largest church during war with Russia, is it defending democracy or becoming what it claims to fight? Why does Western media ignore Christian persecution when it's inconvenient?"
Support Persecuted UOC Communities: International Orthodox Christian Charities Website: https://iocc.org Provides aid to Orthodox Christians facing hardship
Amplify Their Stories: Share documentation of UOC persecution on social media. Tag journalists and human rights organizations. Make the persecution visible despite media silence.
