Holy Spirit Cathedral of the UOC under seizure in Chernivtsi
Beaten UOC priest and group of raiders on cathedral grounds
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.
Read also
Priests and laity of Rivne Eparchy donate blood for children with cancer
In Rivne, the UOC clergy and laity have donated blood for children undergoing treatment for cancer.
Kyiv seminary students meet with People’s Artist Larisa Kadochnikova
Students of Kyiv’s theological schools spoke with the legend of Ukrainian cinema, who shared her memories of filming "Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors".
Bancheny Monastery reports provocation
The UOC monastery in Bancheny has reported a provocation by unidentified individuals.
Romanian Church to hold joint prayer for peace in Ukraine
On the fourth anniversary of the beginning of the war in Ukraine, special prayers for an end to the hostility will be offered in all churches of the Romanian Patriarchate, both in the country and abroad.
Armenian bishops call on authorities to stop Church persecution
At a meeting in Austria, hierarchs of the Armenian Apostolic Church reaffirmed their faithfulness to Catholicos Karekin II of All Armenians and called on the authorities to stop the persecution of the clergy.
Italian media: Ukrainian authorities persecute the country’s largest confession
The Italian outlet L’Identità reported on mass searches, the arrests of clergy, and the ban on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which it describes as the largest Church in Ukraine.