At court hearing in Cherkasy, Met Theodosiy accused of “improper sermon”
At another court hearing in the case of Metropolitan Theodosiy, an expert attempted to argue that there had been no violent seizure of the monastery in Cherkasy and that the alleged crime was committed by the Cherkasy hierarch through an “improper” sermon.
On December 25, 2025, another hearing took place at the Prydniprovskyi District Court of Cherkasy in the case of Metropolitan Theodosiy of Cherkasy and Kaniv. This was reported by the press service of the Cherkasy Eparchy on its Facebook page.
During the hearing, an “expert of the Cherkasy branch of the Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise,” A. P. Stromilo, testified, claiming that Metropolitan Theodosiy had violated the Criminal Code of Ukraine while delivering a sermon in support of the nuns of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos Monastery. The hierarch spoke words of support shortly after the monastery was seized by OCU militants and the nuns were expelled from the convent in 2023. The expert also insisted that there had been no violent seizure of the monastery at all.
Metropolitan Theodosiy took part in the hearing online, as he is currently undergoing outpatient medical treatment.
The next court hearings, again with the participation of the same expert, are scheduled for January 6, 12, and 20.
It should be recalled that on November 20, 2023, individuals in military uniform, in the presence of police officers and Security Service of Ukraine personnel, seized the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos Monastery in the city of Cherkasy. During the raid, attackers broke the jaws, legs, and arms of elderly parishioners and priests. As the eparchy reports, despite the fact that the perpetrators are known by name, they have not only gone unpunished, but no criminal cases have even been opened against them.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Metropolitan of Cherkasy was discharged from hospital following poisoning.
