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.
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