In Zabolottia, over 100 parishioners of seized church hold outdoor liturgy
Persecuted UOC community in Zabolottia. Photo: Facebook page “Faithful of the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Eparchy of the UOC”
After their church was seized by OCU militants, more than a hundred faithful from the UOC’s Church of St. Elias in the Bukovynian village of Zabolottia gathered for Divine Liturgy under the open sky. The service was held in the yard of a parishioner and celebrated by their rector, Archpriest Mykola Tsurkan, according to the Facebook group “Faithful of the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Eparchy of the UOC.”
It is reported that the priest came to his flock despite suffering injuries from a beating, to support, console, and share in the sorrow of the faithful who had lost their sacred church. More than one hundred people – adults and children alike – prayed together in the open air.
Eyewitnesses say the service was marked by a profound spirit of unity among believers, who refused to let the violent seizure of their church shake their faith.
“This was not just a gathering, but a true testimony of faith and spiritual resilience,” the UOC noted.
As a reminder, on May 30, 2025, clergy of the OCU led by Roman Hryshchuk, with police support, stormed the UOC’s Church of St. Elias in Zabolottia. OCU chaplains beat elderly parishioners who were trying to defend their temple. In particular, “priest” Petro Andriychuk, who came from Storozhynets to participate in the seizure, reportedly kicked a female parishioner twice.
Read also
Priest charged with desertion freed after faithful raise bail
Archpriest Vitaliy Agafonov, a cleric of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, has been released after bail was posted with funds raised by the faithful.
UOC clergy and laity from several eparchies donate blood for wounded soldiers
Clergy and Orthodox youth of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church donated blood for wounded military personnel.
UOC faithful in Kozelshchansk hold procession with icon of the Mother of God
Pilgrims and clergy of the Poltava Eparchy prayed at the Kozelshchansk Monastery and took part in a procession around the church with the wonderworking icon.
Hearing in Metropolitan Theodosiy’s сase postponed after “victim” no-show
A scheduled hearing at the Kyiv-Sviatoshyn Court in the case against the ruling bishop of the Cherkasy Eparchy was postponed after OCU chaplain Nazariy Zasansky failed to appear.
Ukraine’s Chief Rabbi: The time has come to build the Third Temple
The spiritual leader of Ukraine’s Jewish community commented on Tucker Carlson’s claims about the religious motives behind the war in the Middle East.
US bars removal of children from parents who reject gender transition
U.S. authorities have affirmed the right of families to raise their children in accordance with their religious convictions and biblical understanding of sex.