Romanian-speaking UOC believers: We are facing religious repression

Romanian-speaking UOC believers. Photo: Screenshot from Facebook video

Romanian-speaking believers of UOC churches in the city of Storozhynets, Chernivtsi region, are under threat of religious persecution.

Supporters of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) intend to carry out an illegal takeover of Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) churches where services are conducted, among other languages, in Romanian. This was stated by Archpriest Vasily Kovalchuk in an appeal to government and diplomatic representatives.

The churches in question are the Church of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel, as well as the Church of the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious, where Vasily Kovalchuk himself serves as the rector.

According to him, the Romanian-speaking Orthodox community is facing pressure, intimidation, and threats from OCU supporters.

"Members of the Romanian community are now facing religious repression. We are citizens of Ukraine, we want to pray in our native language, and for this, we are being persecuted, deprived of our churches, and intimidated," the appeal states.

Attempts to seize the churches are taking place with either the silent consent or outright support of local authorities. Government institutions, schools, and kindergartens are effectively banning visits to UOC churches. Employees of public institutions are being threatened with dismissal if they do not support the transition of parishes to the OCU.

The priest emphasized that religious communities have spent decades building and restoring their churches with the support of parishioners and sponsors from Romania.

Now, these sacred places are being targeted for confiscation. The appeal calls on the international community to pay attention to the violations of believers' rights and to prevent violent church takeovers.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that nearly 3,000 UOC believers in Storozhynets opposed the "transition" to the OCU.

Read also