Major shrines in Chernivtsi re-registered under citizen Bodoriak's name
The major churches of Chernivtsi were re-registered under Yaroslav Bodoriak. Photo: Molodyi Bukovynets
On February 26, 2025, three major Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) churches in Chernivtsi – the Holy Spirit Cathedral, St. Nicholas Cathedral, and the Saints Peter and Paul Church – were re-registered under a new owner, according to the Orthobuk – Orthodox Community of the UOC Telegram channel.
"Today, at 15:10, the three greatest Orthodox shrines of Bukovyna were re-registered under the name of Yaroslav Ivanovych Bodoriak, a resident of the Ivano-Frankivsk region. Unknown individuals made changes to the Unified State Register and appointed Bodoriak as the new owner and new head of St. Nicholas Church of the UOC, the Holy Spirit Cathedral of the UOC, and the Saints Peter and Paul Church of the UOC," the channel’s authors reported. They also called on anyone familiar with Bodoriak’s identity or aware of where this illegal re-registration took place to share information via the feedback chat.
According to YouControl data, as of February 26, the new owner of these churches is listed as "Legal Entity RO 'Religious Community Parish of the Cathedral Church in Honor of the Descent of the Holy Spirit of the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Diocese of the UOC (OCU).'"
It is claimed that this organization was allegedly registered on November 20, 1991. However, it is known that the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) was only established in December 2018.
Background:
On February 16, 2025, an assembly of unknown individuals carrying flags took place outside the fence of the Holy Spirit Cathedral of the UOC. Amid chants of "Death to the enemies," they voted – without any legal grounds – for the transition of the city's three major churches to the OCU. Some of these individuals were recognized by cathedral parishioners as members of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) and OCU communities.
At the same time, inside the cathedral, the UOC religious community held its own vote and reaffirmed its loyalty to their Church. Similar votes later took place in other UOC churches in Chernivtsi.
Read also
Odessa Vicar Speaks on Whether the UOC Is Negotiating with the Phanar
The Archbishop of Artsyz stated that online publications about his negotiations with Patriarch Bartholomew are a lie.
In Kryvyi Rih, the main shrine of the region – the Turkovytsia Icon of the Mother of God – was venerated
On the feast day of the miraculous image of the Mother of God, Metropolitan Efrem of Kryvyi Rih presided over the Divine Liturgy and a religious procession at the cathedral.
The OCU announced that the Filaret schism has been resolved
The Bishops' Council of the OCU declared "the desperate attempts of pro-Russian forces to obstruct the reconciliation" between Dumenko and Denysenko.
Dumenko: It is our duty to establish a National Pantheon of Heroes
The OCU head said that almost no graves of Ukraine’s princes and hetmans have survived and called for their remains to be put together in a National Pantheon.
OCU Bishops’ Council calls on Ukraine to join EU
The OCU said that while the EU has many problems, it is free from the heresy of the “Russian world.”
Forum for UOC clergy wives to be held in Kyiv
At the forum, wives of UOC clergymen will discuss family life, Church ministry, health, and ways to overcome spiritual burnout.