UOC сhurch in Hlyboka under threat: violent seizure looms

Intercession Church of the UOC in the town of Hlyboka. Photo: Hlyboka News

In the town of Hlyboka, Chernivtsi region, activists of the OCU are reportedly preparing a forcible takeover of the UOC’s Intercession Church of the Most Holy Theotokos, according to UOJ sources.

As a reminder, on the morning of February 14, 2025, the parish held a religious assembly at the church. A total of 935 parish members voted to remain within the Ukrainian Orthodox Church under His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry.

Later that same day, a group of individuals not affiliated with the parish held a separate meeting during which they unilaterally “transferred” two UOC communities – the Church of the Protection of the Theotokos and the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross – into the jurisdiction of the OCU.

At 3:00 PM, clergy and faithful of the UOC, carrying banners, crosses, and icons, processed to the site of the unauthorized meeting to publicly affirm their faithfulness to the UOC. However, hired security guards barred them from entering the gathering.

Three days later, on February 17, the Intercession community of Hlyboka recorded a video appeal to U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, requesting protection.

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