Metropolitan Luke on Usyk: A courageous boxer but a cowardly Christian

Oleksandr Usyk with a poster reading "Free Azovstal Defenders" and Tyson Fury. Photo: v-variant.com.ua

On December 20, 2024, Metropolitan Luka of Zaporizhzhia and Melitopol published a post on his Telegram channel criticizing Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk.

In his statement, the archbishop addressed the athlete’s behavior, highlighting his public expression of faith while remaining silent on defending the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC).

The Metropolitan noted that during the traditional "exchange of greetings" before his fight with Tyson Fury, Usyk crossed himself and kissed a cross, openly demonstrating his faith.

"But what God does he believe in? After all, Oleksandr has always positioned himself as a spiritual child of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry and a parishioner of the UOC," the archbishop remarked.

Usyk’s stance seems inconsistent with his lack of public support for the UOC, the Church he has long associated himself with. "For how long now has the Church, with which Usyk identifies himself, been forcibly stripped of its parishes, seen criminal cases opened against its hierarchs, and endured anti-Church laws? Yet, we have not heard a single word from this ‘faithful child’ in defense of the UOC," Metropolitan Luke underscored.

He also pointed out that Usyk could have used his popularity to draw attention to the persecution of the Church. "But we have not heard a single word from this ‘faithful child.’ It’s as though he has filled his mouth with water," he added.

For instance, instead of political slogans on the boxer’s posters, there could have been messages supporting the UOC, such as "Free Metropolitan Arseniy of Sviatohirsk" or "Stop Persecuting the UOC in Ukraine."

However, adopting such a position could invite criticism and the loss of worldly fame, which, according to the UOC hierarch, Usyk is unwilling to risk.

In conclusion, Metropolitan Luke quoted the Gospel: "I feel sorry for Oleksandr. For it is about people like him that the Savior said: 'Whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels’" (Mark 8:38).

Previously, the UOJ reported that heavyweight boxing world champion Oleksandr Usyk shared that he is guided by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry and Bishop Spyridon in matters of faith.

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