New footage showing OCU militants beating Chernivtsi priests published

Militants of the OCU smashed the head of Fr. Vitaliy Honchariuk. Photo: UOJ

The UOJ has received new video footage of the events on June 17 in Chernivtsi, when militants of the OCU seized the Holy Spirit Cathedral.

In the footage, filmed by one of the parishioners, several thugs are seen striking with hands and feet three clergymen of the cathedral: priests Vitaliy Honchariuk and Roman Forosta, as well as deacon Dmytro Lakusta.

Before that, a parishioner had been urging the police to respond to the beating of the priests, which had been ongoing for some time. The law inforcers took no action.

It should be noted that as a result of the brutal beating, two priests were taken by ambulance. They are currently in the hospital with severe injuries. Fr. Vitaliy has a broken nose, diagnosed with a concussion and lacerations on the head, and Fr. Roman also sustained beatings, broken ribs, and suspected internal organ damage.

Read also

Norway to ban social media for under-16s

Norwegian authorities intend to require social media platforms to verify users’ ages and ban access for children under 16 in order to safeguard their mental health.

Pashinyan calls on Armenian Church to reform and replace Catholicos

Armenia’s prime minister spoke of taxes for the Armenian Church, accused it of politicization, and proposed reforms, including replacing the Catholicos and increasing state oversight.

DESS registers "Ukrainian Interchurch Council"

The association has received official status and called for protecting the constitutional status of the family from Supreme Court rulings.

Conspiracy by archbishop and mayor against Met Tychikos exposed in Cyprus

The acting mayor of Paphos has testified to police that Archbishop Georgios instructed the former mayor to publicly smear the hierarch in order to conceal financial dealings worth millions of euros.

TRC abducts Archimandrite Rufin, monk of Odesa monastery

The clergyman was reportedly pulled out of a taxi in Odesa and taken to a training center near Kharkiv, where he is said to be now.

Surge in pilgrim numbers recorded on Mount Athos, administrator says

Amid wars and global instability, the number of pilgrims visiting Mount Athos has risen to as many as 1,500 per day, placing strain on monasteries and infrastructure.