OCU seizes St. Panteleimon Church from UOC in Bila Tserkva
St. Panteleimon Church in Bila Tserkva, now under the OCU. Photo: Espreso
On March 21, 2025, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) took control of the St. Panteleimon Church in Bila Tserkva, previously belonging to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), Espreso reports. According to the new “rector” Vitalii Lysiuk, legal disputes over the church had been ongoing since 2024. The UOC community had accused the OCU of document forgery, but the courts ultimately ruled in favor of Dumenko’s followers. The UOC priest and parishioners voluntarily left the church and handed over the keys to the new administration.
According to the website of the Bila Tserkva Eparchy of the UOC, a conciliar Divine Liturgy was held at the church as recently as March 19, led by Metropolitan Augustine of Bila Tserkva. The diocesan press service has not published any statements regarding the surrender of the church.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that on July 10, 2023, the OCU seized the UOC’s cathedral in Bila Tserkva. OCU clerics spent three hours smashing down the entrance doors with sledgehammers.
Read also
Upper Lavra court hearing postponed
The next court hearing in the Upper Lavra case has been scheduled for November 3.
UOC priest blesses ambulances at Kamianske medical center
A UOC priest in Kamianske blessed ambulances for a medical facility and wished its doctors God's help in their work.
Dumenko to German ambassador: Law targeting UOC also applies to other groups
Epifaniy Dumenko sought to defend Ukraine’s law restricting religious organizations during a meeting with the German ambassador.
Activists bused to court hearings in UOC cases, media say
A minibus has been spotted transporting protesters to and from courthouses where UOC cases are being heard.
Firefighters save historic UOC church from fire in Zakarpattia
A fire broke out at a UOC church in the Tiachiv district, damaging the altar and church furnishings.
Volyn Eparchy faithful collect six tons of aid for Sviatohirsk Lavra
Believers in Volyn collected food and warm clothing for people displaced by the war who have found shelter at Sviatohirsk Lavra.