Chernivtsi mayor congratulates OCU after cathedral raid, then backtracks
Photo: Klichuk (right) receiving an award from Dumenko. Source: Klichuk’s Telegram channel
On June 17, 2025, immediately after the seizure of the Holy Spirit Cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) in Chernivtsi, the city’s mayor, Roman Klichuk, published a congratulatory message to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) on his Facebook page.
“A historic day for the united Local Church of Ukraine and for Chernivtsi. Ukrainian prayer will finally be heard in the Holy Spirit Cathedral💪. I congratulate the parishioners and clergy on this lawful and just decision,” Klichuk wrote, tagging the OCU.
However, not long after parishioners expelled the militants and reclaimed their sacred site, the mayor inexplicably deleted his post. This was reported on Facebook by Bohdan Hutsulyak.
“What happened, Mr. Klichuk? Why did you delete it? Are you no longer pleased with recent events? Your joy faded rather quickly,” he wrote.
As a reminder, the Union of Orthodox Journalists previously analyzed the failed attempt by hired OCU thugs to seize the cathedral in Chernivtsi.
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.