Viral video shows OCU chaplain's disrespectful behavior at soldier’s funeral

Roman Hryshchuk with his back turned to the fallen Ukrainian soldier. Photo: a video screenshot

On March 15, 2024, the Chernivtsi–Bukovyna Eparchy published on Facebook a response to slander circulated by OCU chaplain Roman Hryshchuk.

Earlier, Roman Hryshchuk had criticized UOC clergy, writing on his Facebook page: “They didn’t cross themselves, didn’t bow, and demonstratively showed disrespect for the service.” Taking into account Hryshchuk’s own conduct, the eparchy suggested he may have been describing himself.

Specifically, the eparchy says that the video filmed during the funeral service shows Roman constantly turning his head, examining the church frescoes, and recording on his smartphone. During the singing of “Memory Eternal,” he continued filming on his phone and turned his back to the fallen soldier – thereby, consciously or unconsciously, displaying disrespect toward the deceased and toward the prayer for the repose of his soul.

In the second segment of the video, the eparchy says, Roman walked to the middle of the church during the Gospel reading and began recording again, rotating the smartphone in different directions and finally fixing the camera on the altar. The eparchy notes that behind Roman stood a UOC priest and the rector of the church, listening attentively to the Gospel. It is important, they add, that among the OCU chaplains there was a videographer livestreaming the service, so Hryshchuk had no urgent need to film. At the end of the Gospel reading, the eparchy says, chaplain Roman “did not even cross himself, but, smiling, went back to his place among the chaplains – apparently pleased that his presence at the funeral had not been in vain, and that he had finally found a ‘sensation’ for his own Facebook page and a topic for a sermon at the hero’s grave.”

Reflecting on the video and on the chaplain’s interpretations, the eparchy recalled Christ’s words from the Gospel:

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is a log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:1–5)

The eparchy also noted that behavior similar to that demonstrated by Hryshchuk has been observed by people among the demon-possessed whom they have seen at the Pochaiv Lavra.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that Roman Hryshchuk had stated that cutting off the lock on a UOC church is “a holy deed.”

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