UOC Holy Spirit Cathedral under seizure in Chernivtsi

Beaten UOC priest and group of raiders on cathedral grounds. Photo: screenshot

On June 17, 2025, a group of radically inclined representatives of the OCU carried out an attempted violent takeover of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, the main cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Chernivtsi.

According to eyewitnesses, around 50 aggressively behaving raiders stormed the cathedral grounds, using physical force against clergy and parishioners.

Several people sustained serious injuries during the attack, some of whom were hospitalized.

In a video, a woman recounts that two of the attackers who beat a priest were detained by police. However, law enforcement officers reportedly remained largely inactive and did not intervene in the unfolding events.

The attackers blocked all entrances to the church and continued to assault anyone who tried to approach the sacred building.

Local believers say the assault was premeditated and occurred with the complete inaction of the police, despite numerous emergency calls.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that believers in Chernivtsi had spent the night in churches fearing possible seizures.

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