OCU seizes church in Bukovynian village of Spaska
Raiders in the village of Spaska. Photo: UOJ
On May 12, 2025, in the Bukovynian village of Spaska, clerics of the OCU seized the old UOC church dedicated to Saint John of Suceava, the community reported to UOJ.
According to parishioners, the perpetrators first broke through the side doors and then smashed the 19th-century antique lock on the main doors from the inside.
The seizure was led by serial raider Roman Hryshchuk.
The church was built in 1876 with funds from the Emperor of Austria and the Voivode of Bukovyna, Franz Joseph I.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that the parishioners of the Church of Saint John of Suceava in the village of Spaska made an official statement expressing their intention to remain faithful to the canonical UOC under the primacy of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry. During the meeting, 110 people voted in favor of the UOC.
Read also
Pat Daniel awards Pat Bartholomew with order for overcoming schism in BOC
The award was bestowed for organizing the 1998 Council, which conciliar-ly resolved the crisis caused by the schism in the Bulgarian Church.
Persecuted UOC parish in Chernivtsi celebrates its feast day
A festive divine service in honor of St. Spyridon of Trimythous was held in a parish that remains faithful to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church despite attempts to seize the church.
Bulgarian Church Primate arrives in Istanbul
The first official visit of Patriarch Daniel to the Phanar has begun.
Political expert: Declaring January 7 as Programmer’s Day resembles mockery
Kostiantyn Bondarenko commented on President Volodymyr Zelensky’s decision to designate a new professional holiday on the day when Christmas is celebrated.
Cherkasy court accuses Metropolitan Theodosiy of “improper sermon”
At another court hearing in the case of Metropolitan Theodosiy, an expert attempted to argue that there had been no violent seizure of the monastery in Cherkasy and that the alleged crime was committed by the Cherkasy hierarch through an “improper” sermon.
Catherine Whiteford discusses defense of UOC with Congressman Riley Moore
An American political figure spoke about a meeting that addressed the protection of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and freedom of religion.