In Bukovynian village of Zabolottia, OCU reps seize St Elijah Church of UOC
The police are guarding the OCU raiders who broke into St. Elijah's Church of the UOC in Zabolottia. Photo: UOJ
On May 30, 2025, clerics and activists of the OCU, supported by the police, broke into the territory of the St. Elias Church of the UOC in the village of Zabolottia in Bukovyna and stormed the temple. This was reported to the UOJ by the faithful.
Pushing and beating the parishioners, the raiders broke the door and burst into the shrine. At this time, police representatives stood as a wall on the porch, covering the militants breaking the doors.
After the seizure, law enforcers lined up around the church and did not allow Orthodox Christians in.
The parishioners of the church gathered near their church praying.
The chaplain of the OCU, Roman Hryshchuk, came to the seized Orthodox sanctuary. The faithful chased him away, asking: «Why did you come?».
Reports from the scene indicate that mats and bags of food were brought into the church. Some representatives of the OCU dispersed, while some of the raiders, including people in military uniforms, are planning to spend the night in the Orthodox shrine.
The faithful conducted a live broadcast from the scene.
As the UOJ wrote, in Ust-Putyla, they showed how the police used force against the UOC parishioners.
Read also
German McDonald's removes food from adverts until sunset over Ramadan
In Germany, during the Muslim fast, a fast-food chain hides food images in advertising during the day and shows them only in the evening.
Metropolitan Longin after hearings: Sessions conducted under the rule of law
After the Hertsa Сourt session, the bishop thanked the faithful for their support and called for forgiveness, prayer, and faithfulness to Christ.
Christian series "The Chosen" sets world record for being most widely-translated
The streaming series The Chosen , which explores the life of Jesus and his disciples, has broken its own Guinness World Record for being the most widely-translated series of all time.
US Secretary of Defense to the Army: God extends His arms over you
Pete Hegseth stated that American military personnel are "no longer defenders" but warriors "trained to destroy the enemy."
MP demands answers from Rivne authorities over UOC charity event
Bobrovska expressed outrage that city officials allowed the Rivne Eparchy of the UOC to hold a charity festival that raised money for children with cancer.
In U.S., Archbishop of Albania leads Divine Liturgy on Triumph of Orthodoxy
The Primate of the Albanian Church served in Massachusetts and called for visible unity among Orthodox jurisdictions.