Usyk: I am guided by UOC Primate in matters of faith

Oleksandr Usyk at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. Photo: UOC

World heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk has shared who guides him in his faith. “His Beatitude Onuphry. And Bishop Spiridon (likely referring to Bishop Spiridon of Vasylkiv, who was deprived of Ukrainian citizenship in 2023 – Ed.),” Usyk said. This was reported by the Tribuna publication.

On August 25, Usyk was spotted attending a service of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. This occurred the day after Usyk met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. During that meeting, the boxer presented Zelensky with his WBC heavyweight champion belt.

As reported by the UOJ, on August 24, 2024, President Volodymyr Zelensky signed the law adopted by the Verkhovna Rada, Law No. 8371 “On Protecting the Constitutional Order in the Sphere of Religious Organizations,” which aims to ban the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

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