UOC parishes of Rivne Eparchy being inspected for ties with ROC

The Eparchial Council of the Rivne Eparchy of the UOC. Photo: rivne.church.ua

The Chairman of the Rivne Regional Council, Andriy Karaush, issued an order to inspect the churches of the Rivne Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church regarding their affiliation. This was reported by the secretary of the eparchy, Archpriest Viktor Zemliany, at the eparchial meeting on June 13, 2025, as stated on the website rivne.church.ua.

During the meeting at the St. George's Metochion in Rivne, Archpriest Viktor Zemliany commented on the situation in connection with the official order of the Rivne Regional Council regarding inspections of UOC parishes.

The eparchial council drafted an official appeal to the chairman of the regional council, outlining the eparchy's position on the actions of the authorities. According to the clergy, they can be regarded as interference in the activities of a religious organization.

The text of this appeal is to be published soon by the eparchial press service.

Archbishop Pimen, in turn, emphasized the "necessity of a high level of discipline" among the clergy and monastics of the eparchy.

He stressed that "in the conditions of public pressure and challenges faced by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, pastors must be examples of responsibility, fidelity to canonical order, and sacrificial service".

Earlier, teh UOJ reported that DESS began an inspection of the Kyiv Metropolis of the UOC for ties with the RF on May 20.

According to Resolution No. 543, DESS is authorized to conduct investigations of religious organizations both on its own initiative and upon requests from government bodies, local authorities, civic associations, and others.

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