OCU: The cathedral clash was about Ukraine's rights in fighting Russia

OCU militants beating Fr. Roman, priest of the Chernivtsi Cathedral. Photo: UOJ

During a press briefing regarding the attempted seizure of the Holy Spirit Cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) in Chernivtsi, Feognost Bodoriak, the so-called “bishop” of the OCU in Chernivtsi, claimed he had no knowledge of the militants who stormed the cathedral, brutally beat UOC priests, and stole the church’s treasury.

According to him, he had seen the footage from the cathedral and insisted that the attackers “are not parishioners or believers of the OCU.” At the same time, Bodoriak added, “Ukraine has many patriots who are ready to defend the rights of Ukraine amid this horrific aggression from Russia.”

He lamented that “there are no complete video recordings, only fragments that serve the propaganda of the ‘Russian World’ and Russian television.” He also speculated that the attackers' actions may have been a “provocation by the aggressor.”

Bodoriak expressed confidence that “with God's help, our society will come to understand the truth, the real truth – people’s eyes will be opened.” He also emphasized that he is in regular contact with the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).

As a reminder, Bodoriak previously claimed that he was prevented from entering the Holy Spirit Cathedral by “representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church.”

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