Metropolitan Luke (Kovalenko)

Luke, Metropolitan of Zaporizhia and Melitopol

(Secular name: Andrey Kovalenko)

Date of birth: July 11, 1971

Ruling Bishop of the Zaporizhia and Melitopol Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Zaporizhia Oblast)

The bishop was first summoned to the SBU "for a conversation" in November 2018, during the presidency of Petro Poroshenko.

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On December 11, 2022, by decree of President Zelenskyy, in accordance with the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC), personal sanctions were imposed against Metropolitan Luke.

(Source: Official website of the Office of the President)

On May 1, 2024, the Security Service of Ukraine conducted searches at the home of Metropolitan Luka of Zaporizhia and Melitopol.

SBU officers served the bishop with a notice of suspicion under Part 2 of Article 161 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – Incitement of interreligious hatred.

(Source: SBU)

The SBU's Telegram channel stated that Metropolitan Luke allegedly "provoked and incited religious hatred in Ukraine... publicly expressed his disdainful attitude toward parishioners of other faiths."

"He repeatedly mentioned this during his interactions with parishioners and during church liturgies," the SBU wrote.

According to the SBU, the bishop also "posted provocative messages on his personal Telegram channel, insulting the religious feelings of representatives of other faiths," thereby "destabilizing the socio-political situation in the frontline region in favor of the aggressor country."

During the search, Metropolitan Luka said, he was constantly asked questions about the OCU: "Why don't you convert to the OCU? Why weren't you at the council in 2018? Why didn't you submit to 'Pope' Bartholomew?"

The archpastor said his comments about not converting to the OCU were not motivated by hatred for this organization, but by concern for his flock. "I can't say: go to the abyss, go to the abyss!" he declared.

"They want to convict me for the truth. For telling the truth. Not the political, not the geopolitical, but our ecclesiastical truth." "O Christ! The truth that leads to only one thing—salvation! I am responsible for you. And I will answer before God. Here I am, Lord, and here is my flock!" the bishop said.

The Metropolitan emphasized that he never called on his parishioners to do anything against Ukraine.

"We pray for our country, for the authorities and the army. You hear this. And this is our duty…"

(Source: UOJ)

On May 7, 2024, a judge of the Solomensky District Court in Kyiv ordered Metropolitan Luke to be placed under house arrest for two months and subject to electronic monitoring.

(Source: UOJ)

On June 27, 2024, the Solomensky Court in Kyiv extended Metropolitan Luke's overnight house arrest for another month at the request of an SBU investigator.

(Source: Metropolitan Luke's Telegram channel)

On March 16, 2023, the Supreme Court received a lawsuit from Metropolitan Luke of Zaporizhia and Melitopol.

The hierarch filed a lawsuit against President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The SBU and the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine are listed as third parties.

Metropolitan Luke is asking the court to declare illegal and repeal Presidential Decree No. 863 of December 11, 2022, which imposed sanctions against him.
(Source: Glavcom)