250 believers of Transfiguration Church, Kerstentsi, confirm loyalty to UOC

The UOC temple in honor of the Transfiguration of the Lord in the village of Kerstentsi. Photo: acc

On February 28, 2025, the religious community in honor of the Transfiguration of the Lord in the Bukovynian village of Kerstentsi, part of the Khotyn district of the UOC, with the rector, archpriest Volodymyr Tymofeiev, testified its loyalty to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church led by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry. This was reported on the page "Faithful of the Chernivtsi-Bukovynian Eparchy".

All 250 parishioners present voted in favor.

At the same time, the meeting of supporters of the OCU was postponed several times. Initially, it was planned for February 28, but only about 30 people showed up. The infamous chaplain present at the event stated that this was insufficient, so the meeting was postponed. However, even fewer people came then – about 25 – so the meeting was postponed again, this time to Sunday, March 23.

According to local residents, this time various methods of "delaying the meeting" were employed, including blackmail, threats of mobilization through the TRC, bribery, and other means. However, even such methods did not yield the expected results – about 40 people attended.

"The organizers claimed that many people were also in the corridor, but according to our information, it was the police. Of course, law enforcement officers are also citizens, but they are not members of the religious community of the UOC in the village of Kerstentsi. For the organizers, this apparently did not matter," the Chernivtsi Eparchy added.

The press service of the OCU stated that allegedly at the general parish meeting, 181 "registered members of the community unanimously made the decision" to join their structure. According to them, "the process took place in accordance with canonical and legal norms, reflecting the will of the community." The photo clearly shows that several dozen people gathered in the hall.

As reported by the UOJ, believers remain in the cathedral of Chernivtsi overnight, fearing an assault.

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