People in camouflage block Trinity Cathedral in Chernihiv

People in balaclavas blocking priests from entering Chernihiv's Trinity Cathedral. Photo: UOJ

On the morning of 14 December 2023, representatives of the Reserve "Chernihiv Ancient" entered the Trinity Cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Chernihiv under the protection of people in camouflage and did not allow the clergy inside, as became known from the video of the Secretary of the Chernihiv Eparchy, Archpriest Ihor Pidan.

"The Ministry of Culture and the Reserve accompanied by unknown military men without documents entered the Trinity Cathedral, where there are relics of St Theodosius, St Lawrence, St Philaret Gumilevsky. What they are doing there is unknown. Representatives of the Church are not allowed inside," the priest said.

He tried to enter the cathedral with his camera switched on, but unknown people in balaclavas blocked the entrance and did not let the clergyman go to the door. When asked to show their documents or at least explain who they were and what they were doing at the cathedral, these people did not respond.

As earlier reported, the Ministry of Culture needs money for the "museumification" of the churches of the UOC in Chernihiv.

Read also

TRC abducts priest in Korosten after he fled frontline Kherson region

TRC officers abducted Archpriest Pavlo Hirchenko on Sunday morning as he was on his way to church.

Epifaniy awarded with ‘Golden Trident’ at seized Cherkasy cathedral

Dumenko received an embroidered trident described by its creators as a manifesto of the Ukrainian soul.

Vinnytsia Eparchy priest dies in car crash

Archimandrite Job reposed in the Lord at the age of 63 as a result of a car accident on the evening of September 7.

Shevchuk: Demographic crisis can be solved – 60 million Ukrainians worldwide

The head of the UGCC said he is optimistic about Ukraine’s demographic problem because tens of millions of ethnic Ukrainians live around the world.

Lviv region court sentences Jehovah’s Witness to 5 years for refusing to fight

The Stryi court rejected the Jehovah’s Witness’s defense arguments that he was entitled to alternative civilian service.

Phanar head could stop church raids with a single word, says UOC hierarch

Metropolitan Theodosiy said the Ecumenical Patriarch must have understood what consequences the creation of the OCU could bring.