UOC Sumy bishop expresses support for Bukovynians who defended their shrine

Bukovynian Orthodox faithful defended their cathedral in Chernivtsi, June 17, 2025. Photo: First Cossack

Metropolitan Yevlogiy of Sumy has condemned the attempted violent seizure of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Chernivtsi on June 17, 2025. He made the statement on his Facebook page.

“We categorically condemn the seizure and desecration of the UOC cathedral in Chernivtsi, as well as the abuse of Metropolitan Meletiy and the UOC faithful,” he wrote.

The Metropolitan expressed gratitude to the Orthodox Christians for their courage:

“A deep bow to the faithful who defended their cathedral and freed it from the bandits,” said the hierarch of the Sumy Eparchy.

The UOJ earlier reported that during the violent takeover of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Chernivtsi, OCU supporters inflicted serious injuries on UOC cleric Archpriest Vitaliy Honcharuk. Preliminary reports indicate that Fr. Vitaliy suffered broken ribs and possible internal injuries, and was urgently hospitalized.

However, UOC believers in Chernivtsi were later able to drive out the OCU raiders and reclaim their cathedral.

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