In Varash, OCU "revision commission" fail to enter UOC cathedral

UOC parishioners in front of their Transfiguration Cathedral in Varash. Photo: UOJ

On May 20, 2025, there was another attempt to seize the Transfiguration Cathedral of the UOC in Varash, Rivne region. A report from the YouTube channel «NIKA» states that in the morning, a religious community gathered for a prayer standing near the temple.

During the reading of the Akathist to the Resurrection of Christ, a small group of people, consisting of the cleric of the OCU, Yosyp, deputy Oleksandr Derevianchuk, and the new "owner" of the cathedral, Ms. Khvyshchuk, attempted to break through to the cathedral. However, after some pushing, they were unable to reach the doors and retreated. According to parishioners, the "revision commission" of the OCU promised to return with angle grinders.

After the Akathist, the abbot of the Pokrovsky Monastery in the village of Tseptsevychi, Archimandrite Antoniy emphasized that the believers came to their church not to fight or rebel, but to pray and defend their shrine, which they built with their own funds.

"And the law is on our side. And no matter what they say today, documents can be redone for any apartment or any company through raider seizure. But will that be right? Will that be by conscience?"  the archimandrite addressed the believers.

"If any person, an ordinary citizen, were told today: 'We will come and take your apartment,' a criminal case would be opened immediately, right? Right. And today, they want to take any company that people have taken a liking to, but there is a law," he emphasized. The archimandrite urged the OCU members to build themselves, rather than take what belongs to others.

"Imagine if a person has settled in, already had dinner, is getting ready to go to bed, and suddenly people burst in and say: 'This is our apartment, this is our home, here are the documents, please.' What would be the reaction of the people living in this apartment? The reaction would be the same as ours today. This reaction — we are responding adequately. Not everyone can keep their nerves, but I urge you to keep love. Love covers many sins," said Archimandrite Antoniy.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that on May 15, Varash parishioners defended their cathedral.

Read also