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ДОКУМЕНТИРУЕТСЯ
Eustratius Zorya
Archbishop of Chernihiv and Nizhyn, OCU
Полное досье
Ivan (Yevstratiy) Zoria
Date of birth: October 21, 1977
Metropolitan of Bila Tserkva of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU); spokesperson of the Holy Synod of the OCU; Deputy Head of the OCU Department for External Church Relations; former Head of the Information Department of the UOC-KP.
Yevstratiy Zoria is one of the most consistent and outspoken supporters of the persecution of the clergy and faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC).
While serving as a functionary of the UOC-KP and later the OCU, Zoria publicly employed hate-laden rhetoric against Orthodox Christians. Moreover, the OCU cleric directly participated in campaigns that included calls for reprisals against UOC believers.
In addition, Zoria has taken part in systematic efforts to conceal and deny crimes committed against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
October 29, 2018 Zoria stated that the Kyiv Patriarchate was interested in the adoption of draft law No. 5309 on the forced renaming of the UOC as the “Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine.”
“We ask the Verkhovna Rada to adopt such a law so that the Church in Ukraine, which is called the ‘Ukrainian Orthodox Church,’ would bear its truthful name – the ‘Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine,’” the spokesperson of the UOC-KP declared, stressing that citizens “have the right to know the truth.”
Draft law No. 5309 concerns the naming of religious organizations and associations whose “governing center” is located in a state “recognized by law as carrying out military aggression against Ukraine and/or temporarily occupying part of Ukraine’s territory.” Zoria emphasized that the authors of the bill had specified criteria for determining the affiliation of a church’s leadership with an aggressor state.
One such criterion, he said, was the presence of references to “such relations” in the statutes of the religious organization itself and its “governing center.” Zoria described the fact that the statute of the Russian Orthodox Church names Kyiv as the center of the UOC as a Moscow “trick.”
He did not mention that the UOC statute enshrines its status as a self-governing Church or that it is governed by its own Council. Instead, he asserted: “And let us look at the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which is so called. Does its statute state that it is part of the ROC? It does.”
April 1, 2019 Zoria attempted to conceal violent seizures of UOC churches by OCU activists from representatives of the OSCE.
At an OSCE meeting, the spokesperson of the UOC-KP claimed that the UOC allegedly obstructs the “free decision” of communities to transfer to the OCU through pressure and “Russian propaganda.”
Speech on OSCE meeting (April 1, 2019)
Ladies and Gentlemen.
I am Archbishop Yevstratiy (Zoria), representative of the Local Ukrainian Church to the European Institutions.
As you know, in Ukraine were important changes in the Orthodox Church. On December 15, 2018, the Unification Council took place, and on January 6, 2019, the Local Ukrainian Orthodox Church received Tomos (special decree) of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople about autocephaly (or Church independence). On the basis of these events, a voluntary unification of Orthodoxy in Ukraine occurs.
Religious communities make the decision on their subordination in their general assemblies - to belong to the Russian Church or to the Ukrainian Church.
The Moscow Patriarchate is trying to prevent the free decision of the communities. This includes informational and legal pressure, the spread of accusations in the traditional style of Russian propaganda.
I want to emphasize that the Ukrainian Church stands for the right of every religious community, in accordance with the law, to freely decide on which religious center it wishes to obey. This is consistent with the general right to freedom of religion and belief. We oppose violence and have repeatedly condemned any calls for violence in matters relating to the Church. And we are open to a constructive dialogue with all interested parties, including OSCE.
Thank you.
(Source: Yevstratiy Zoria’s Facebook page)
April 22, 2019 Zoria publicly criticized a court decision suspending the enforcement of the law on the forced renaming of the UOC.
Commenting on the ruling of the Kyiv District Administrative Court, Zoria wrote on Facebook that the Orthodox Church would soon “remember two of the most shameful court sessions in the history of mankind.”
“The Moscow Patriarchate cannot be made non-Moscow by any court,” Zoria stated, accusing the UOC of trying to conceal its alleged affiliation with the Moscow Patriarchate, “above all from its own faithful.”
(Source: Yevstratiy Zoria’s Facebook page)
July 3, 2019 Zoria attempted to justify raider seizures of UOC churches by OCU activists and to blame Orthodox communities for “aggression.”
Zorya is convinced that the divisions in villages where UOC churches are being seized are not the ones seizing them, but those resisting them.
Departures to the newly created religious organization have slowed due to the aggression of UOC believers during the resistance, OCU spokesman Yevstratiy Zorya stated in an interview with Channel 5.
"It (the transition process – Ed.) has become less intense; that is, it hasn't stopped completely, but it has become less intense. Why? Primarily because the Moscow Patriarchate has become much more aggressive in resisting such transitions," Zorya stated.
In his opinion, if a church is located in a remote village, then defending it may only attract attention, so that others will reconsider joining the new church structure.
September 19, 2019 During another OSCE meeting, Zoria again attempted to conceal violent seizures of UOC churches.
He referred to UOC clergy as “representatives of the Moscow Patriarchate from Ukraine” and accused priests who had suffered violence of spreading propaganda against the OCU at international forums.
Ladies and gentlemen!
Archbishop YEVSTRATIY, Representative of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine to the European Institutions
It is sad to say that, as in the past, religious and secular representatives of the Russian side, including representatives of the Moscow Patriarchate from Ukraine, use the opportunities of international meetings to spread propaganda, directed against the independent Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
First of all, this concerns the ongoing accusations of allegedly taking place "the seizure of churches" of the Moscow Patriarchate in Ukraine.
Religious communities in our country have the status of a legal entity and, in accordance with the general right to freedom of conscience and religion, as well as in accordance with the laws of Ukraine, have the right at their general meeting to decide on withdrawal from the jurisdiction of one religious association and joining another religious association. The Moscow Patriarchate is trying by all available methods to prevent communities from realizing such a right. For this, disinformation, extreme pressure, intimidation of activists, pressure on authorities and the like are used.
The Orthodox Church of Ukraine has consistently advocated for the observance of the right to freedom of conscience and religion, including the right of a religious community to freely determine the religious center to which it wishes to submit. We actively cooperate with representatives of the OSCE and other international organizations in these matters.
As we stated earlier, we are open and ready for a constructive dialogue with representatives of the Moscow Patriarchate in Ukraine, including on mechanisms for realizing the rights of religious communities.
Unfortunately, as before, instead of dialogue, the Moscow Patriarchate prefers enmity and unfair accusations.
Another important topic that requires an immediate response from the international community is the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox community led by Archbishop Clement, by the Russian occupying authorities occurring in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. Hiding behind the decisions of the Russian courts, authorities in occupied Crimea have taken away the church from the religious community of Saints Volodymyr and Olha in Simferopol. Representatives of the community turned to the UN Human Rights Committee, which took up the issue and demanded that the Russian side stop the eviction of the community from the church - but this requirement has also been ignored. This week, authorities began the “inventory of property” of the church with the goal of finally expelling the community from it.
This is just one of many examples of the persecution, pressure and intimidation experienced by Ukrainian Orthodox communities in the Russian-occupied Crimea and in parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. We ask the international community to take all possible steps so that Russia, in the regions of Ukraine captured and occupied by it, adheres to its obligations and does not violate the right to freedom of conscience and religion.
We recommend OSCE ODIHR and SMM in Ukraine start monitoring the violations of the freedom of religion and beliefs in Crimea, the Russian occupied region of Ukraine, especially regarding the execution of the UN Human Rights Committee decision. We also recommend to the Russian Federation fulfill its obligations and end the religious persecution in the occupied territories.
Thanks for your attention.
(Source: Yevstratiy Zoria’s Facebook page)
November 18, 2019 Zoria stated that the law on the forced renaming of the UOC would facilitate a new wave of so-called “transfers” to the OCU.
“These communities will face a choice. They will have to hold a meeting and choose a name – either they will be Ukrainian, or they will be communities of the ROC,” he said.
July 5, 2020 Zoria served a “liturgy” in a UOC church seized in the village of Kovpyta, Chernihiv region, despite a court ruling ordering the church to be returned to its lawful UOC community.
The Church views the "divine services" of an OCU hierarch in a church that the court ordered returned to the UOC community as a complete disrespect for the judicial and state authorities of Ukraine.
"In fact, this is a demonstrative failure to comply with the court's decision," said Archpriest Alexander Bakhov, head of the UOC Legal Department. "When it suits the OCU, they shout about their patriotism, but in reality, they act in the exact opposite manner and effectively disregard state laws."
As a reminder, the UOC Holy Protection Community holds three court rulings confirming its rights to the church illegally seized in 2019. Having lost twice in court, OCU supporters filed a cassation appeal, but the Cassation Commercial Court, part of the Supreme Court, also dismissed it, thus deeming the decision to return the Holy Protection Church to the community of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church final.
The church has not been returned to its rightful owners, and parishioners continue to gather for prayer in the small house where they have already celebrated two Easters.
April 6, 2021 Zoria labeled UOC’s religious (cross) processions as “pro-Moscow events” and expressed hope that the authorities would “do their job” to prevent them from leading to “something worse.”
Zorya hopes that the Ukrainian authorities are doing their job regarding "all these pro-Moscow events" so that they don't lead "to something worse."
"I hope that those who are supposed to are doing their job, and that all these pro-Moscow events, all these calls in the spirit of the 'Russian world,' won't lead to something worse," he concluded.
April 17, 2021 Zoria announced and later carried out a religious rite in a UOC church seized with the participation of nationalist activists from the Svoboda party in the village of Pryputni, Chernihiv region.
December 9, 2021 Zoria met with Verkhovna Rada Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk to discuss the discriminatory law on military chaplaincy.
UOC believers suspect Zoria of lobbying provisions banning UOC clergy from serving as army chaplains.
July 10, 2023 Zoria announced on Telegram that his subordinates had seized the Transfiguration Cathedral of the UOC.
"This morning, the rector of the church, Archpriest Nikolai Gopaynich, and representatives of the diocese, along with law enforcement officers, arrived at the Transfiguration Cathedral to finally gain access, removing the obstacles to its use created by supporters of the 'Russian world,'" wrote Zorya, adding that Gopaynich entered at 9 a.m.
According to the "bishop," the parishioners' defense of their holy site is a "pro-Russian provocation."
"If they had any dignity, they would have complied with the decision of the Bila Tserkva community and vacated the cathedral without creating a 'show' for further dissemination of anti-Ukrainian propaganda," Zorya stated.
The invaders cut the cathedral doors with a grinder and smashed them in with a sledgehammer.
(Source: Zoria’s Telegram channel)
November 4, 2023 In an interview with Voice of America, Zoria claimed that Ukraine enjoys an “unprecedented level of religious freedom,” denying reports of persecution of the UOC.
In an interview with the Voice of America, he stated that Ukraine today enjoys "an unprecedented level of religious freedom."
Regarding the visit of members of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations to the United States, Zorya said that "one of the key questions" Ukrainians were asked in Washington was "whether there is religious freedom in Ukraine."
According to Zorya, this freedom exists because the people who came to the United States with the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations told the Americans about it.
In the same interview, Zorya stated that UOC lawyer Robert Amsterdam and journalist Tucker Carlson are "lying and engaging in propaganda."
December 24, 2023 Zoria publicly lobbied a draft law intended to intensify persecution of Orthodox Christians in Ukraine, calling for restrictions not only on Christians but also on Muslim and Jewish communities.
July 12, 2024 Zoria continued lobbying for draft law No. 8371, aimed at the effective destruction of the UOC, asserting that it would be adopted despite concerns in Western countries about violations of religious freedom.
The OCU spokesman told Gazeta.ua that Law 8371, aimed at effectively destroying the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, would be passed.
He explained that a perception had formed in Western countries that this bill violated religious freedom, and this perception had had some effect among American conservatives. Zoria reported that, thanks to the efforts of the Ukrainian religious community, this "effect" had been largely dispelled, and Congress voted to provide military aid to Ukraine.
October 18, 2024 Zoria attempted to conceal the violent seizure of the St. Michael’s Cathedral of the UOC in Cherkasy by armed militants, blaming Metropolitan Theodosiy and alleging “pro-Russian views.”
The spokesman for the OCU stated that the clashes near St. Michael's Cathedral in Cherkasy were provoked to create a media image that could be exploited by Russian propaganda, Ukrinform reports.
He placed full responsibility for the storming of the cathedral and the beating of UOC believers on Metropolitan Theodosius of Cherkasy and Kaniv, citing the bishop's alleged pro-Russian views
January 3, 2025 Zoria sought to discredit UN human-rights advocates who reported persecution of Orthodox Christians in Ukraine, claiming that the UN had “lost its authority.”
OCU spokesman Eustratiy Zoria claimed on Facebook that the UN has "lost its authority" and is now being "used by our enemies." Zoria made this statement in the context of a report by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, which criticized the law banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Zoria reposted information about the "Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' immediate reaction to the UN High Commissioner's findings" and that "the law does not provide for a ban on any of the churches existing in Ukraine."
February 5, 2025 At the International Religious Freedom Summit in Washington, Zoria asserted that the Ukrainian state had justifiably banned the UOC and claimed that “80% of Ukrainians support” the ban.
He posted the report on his Facebook page.
Yevstratiy Zoria devoted much of his report to criticizing the Moscow Patriarchate and drawing parallels between the ideology of the "Russian World" and Nazism.
Based on these theses, he justified the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations' support for the law banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which he called "a law banning Moscow-based centers from having administrative influence on religious life in Ukraine."
He assured those present that "80% of respondents in Ukraine support" the ban on the UOC.
July 29, 2025 OCU leader Epifaniy Dumenko met with U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Julie Davis. Zoria also attended the meeting. The participants assured the U.S. diplomat that reports of persecution of the UOC were “Russian disinformation.”
Ivan Zorya and US Embassy staff also attended the meeting.
The interlocutors reportedly "discussed issues of ensuring religious freedom in Ukraine and the aggressor state's attempts to use religious organizations in its hybrid war against our state."
Dumenko and Zorya focused on the law banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. They also assured Davis that all reports of persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church are "Russian disinformation campaigns aimed at creating a false impression of alleged 'religious persecution' in Ukraine."
September 9, 2025 Members of the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations met with the Ambassador of Egypt to Ukraine, again assuring him of “freedom of religion” in Ukraine. Zoria took part in the meeting.
The meeting took place at the ambassador's residence.
During the meeting, representatives of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations(AUCCRO) reportedly assured the ambassador of "freedom of religion" in Ukraine.
The two sides expressed their willingness to continue the dialogue and discussed prospects for further cooperation.
Yevstratiy Zorya participated in the meeting.
September 23, 2025 Epifaniy Dumenko met with Acting Minister of Culture Tetiana Berezhna. Zoria was present. The meeting reportedly discussed “practical steps” to implement new state legislation in the religious sphere, widely understood as referring to the law banning the UOC.
The meeting was also attended by OCU spokesman Yevstratiy Zoria and acting director of the Lavra Reserve, S. Kotlyarevska.
The parties reportedly discussed "initiatives to popularize true Ukrainian history, as well as practical steps to implement new state legislation in the sphere of religion and counter aggressive Russian influence in religious and cultural spheres."
It can be assumed that these statements refer to Law 3894, which the Verkhovna Rada refers to as a law banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
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