In Stavchany, OCU seizes St. Michael's Church

A cleric of the OCU and activists pushed parishioners out of their church. Photo: UOJ

On April 21, 2025, Bright Monday, in the Bukovynian village of Stavchany, activists of the OCU seized the Archangel Michael Church of the UOC, report sources in the community to the UOJ.

According to parishioners, despite the community's position, the authorities illegally re-registered the church under the OCU, which is why activists led by a cleric of the OCU from another village came to the church to "take what is theirs". About two dozen men entered the church during the service and simply pushed the parishioners out onto the street. At that time, the church was mostly filled with elderly women, and they could do nothing against the brute physical force.

Two days later, the rector of the church, Archpriest Vyacheslav Hohol, was stopped by the police and ordered to appear at the TCK.

In February 2025, OCU cleric Hryshchuk, who had seized the church in Verkhni Stanivtsi at night, organized a fake community meeting in Stavchany. The rector of the community noted at that time that most of those who voted for the transition did not attend the church.

Currently, the community is looking for a temporary location to hold services.

Earlier, teh UOJ reported that in Verkhni Stanivtsi, the OCU seized the UOC church with the help of the police.

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