In Serbo-Slobidka, OCU and local authorities seize a UOC church
OCU representatives seized the UOC's Paraskeva Church in the village of Serbo-Slobidka. Photo: Screenshot from the Dozor video
On February 28, 2025, a group of OCU representatives seized the UOC's Paraskeva Church in the village of Serbo-Slobidka, Zhytomyr region. According to the Dozor Telegram channel, a group of activists, who had no connection to the parish, had previously voted to transfer the church to the OCU.
This took place the day after a meeting of the religious community, where the parishioners unanimously declared that they would remain part of the UOC.
The raiders falsified documents for the church and, on February 26, came to take it over. They damaged the locks in the presence of the police.
The takeover was led by the head of the territorial community, Arkadiy Ratushniak, the village elder, Mykola Zakharchenko, the director of Yabloniv Gymnasium, Nataliya Yezhevska, and the director of Serbo-Slobidka Gymnasium, Tetiana Lytvynchuk.
As a result, the church was sealed pending a court decision.
"On February 27, Orthodox Christians were forced to pray outside while facing threats from activists. On February 28, OCU raiders violated prior agreements, cut the locks, and broke into the church," the report stated.
As previously reported by the UOJ, in Stary Vovchynets, a UOC parish introduced fixed membership, thwarting the OCU's takeover plans.
Read also
Pilgrim group from Kyiv Theological Seminary visits Mount Athos
KTS students are making a pilgrimage to the holy sites of Romania, Greece, Mount Athos and Italy.
UOC cathedral celebrates its patronal feast in Ternopil
The service in the cathedral of the Holy Martyrs Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia was led by Metropolitan Serhii of Ternopil, concelebrated by four hierarchs.
MinCulture marks centenary of Soviet-era reserve at Lavra's Refectory Church
Representatives of the Ministry of Culture presented awards to the Reserve's employees on the occasion of the anniversary at the Refectory Church of the Lavra.
Conference to mark 1700th anniversary of Christianity adoption held in Georgia
In Georgia, representatives of the Church and the state noted the defining role of Christianity in the country's cultural development.
MP urges to ease pressure on UOC for sake of peace
Oleksii Honcharenko proposed compromises on language, historical memory, and Church issues as part of efforts to achieve peace, saying those who wish to attend the “Russian Church” should be allowed to do so.
Court takes 17th-century church in Staryi Pochaiv from UOC community
A commercial court overturned a 2018 registrar’s decision and stripped the UOC’s Ternopil Eparchy of ownership of the 17th-century church.