Dumenko awards a raider of UOC Cathedral in Cherkasy
A participant in the seizure of St. Michael’s Cathedral receives an award from Dumenko. Collage: UOJ
On May 22, 2025, the head of the OCU, Epifaniy Dumenko, awarded Vyacheslav Hora, head of Cherkasy’s territorial defense, a “Blessing Certificate.” According to Hora, he considers it an award “for the entire Volunteer Formation of the Cherkasy Territorial Community for services to the OCU and the devout people.”
“The Volunteer Formation always supports its community and shares the desire of believers to pray in the Ukrainian church, which makes this distinction especially important to us,” Hora wrote.
Meanwhile, journalists from First Cossack published photos showing Hora participating in the seizure of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church’s St. Michael’s Cathedral in Cherkasy, highlighting that it was he and his subordinates who “carried out a violent assault and looting of the sacred site.”
The outlet also published documents showing that Hora receives funding from the City Council. “In other words, he engages in raiding and assaults on Christians using municipal funds,” the journalists noted.
As a reminder, a Member of Parliament named those who took part in the storming of St. Michael’s Cathedral.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that a militant who opened fire on parishioners during the assault on the cathedral had been nominated to serve on Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense Council.
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.