Police on church raid in Maliatyntsi: The OCU exercised its legal right

The police are guarding the raiders of the OCU who are installing new locks on St. Nicholas Church of the UOC. Photo: Facebook of the St. Nicholas Parish of the UOC in Maliatyntsi

On the night of March 21, 2025, a group of raiders from the OCU, having cut the locks, broke into the Nikolaev Church of the UOC in the village of Maliatyntsi in Bukovyna. The police of the Chernivtsi region informed the Suspilne publication that in this way, representatives of the OCU exercised their legal right.

“Representatives of the OCU exercised their legal right to use the religious building and the land plot, entered the religious building, and began their first worship service. Representatives of the UOC arrived at the scene, who were against this action,” said the press secretary of the National Police of the region, Karolina Marysheva.

According to Marysheva, law enforcement officers were present to prevent conflicts. At the same time, the police registered two complaints – from believers of the UOC and representatives of the OCU – regarding possible illegal actions and began investigations.

On the UOC parish page, they commented on the article from Suspilne as follows: “We all know well what happened at the meeting, who won, and who left with their heads down. It is also known that they are building everything on lies. But regarding the journalists who write this nonsense, it should be noted: according to the rules, before publishing such materials, they should have come to the scene and heard both sides.”

Orthodox Bukovynians continue to pray in front of their church.

As reported by the UOJ, OCU activists held a meeting regarding the "transition" of the UOC church in Maliatyntsi on February 2. Believers were present at the meeting. According to eyewitnesses, 114 parishioners voted for the UOC, and 74 activists voted for the "transition to the OCU."

After the church was seized in Maliatyntsi on March 21, representatives of the OCU locked themselves in the church and spent the entire night there. Orthodox Christians began gathering near their church from the night. The police stood in front of the shrine and did not allow UOC parishioners to enter.

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