OCU members: Chokaliuk's role in Chernivtsi cathedral seizure is “slander”

Chokaliuk inside the UOC cathedral in Chernivtsi. Photo: UOJ

In the village of Mamaivtsi in Bukovyna, Ivan Chokaliuk serves as the rector of a parish of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU). Parishioners have called the accusations that their “chaplain” participated in the violent attempt to seize the Holy Spirit Cathedral of the UOC in Chernivtsi “slander.” A corresponding statement was published on Facebook.

Ivan Chokalyuk, who is known to be the uncle of OCU head Epifaniy Dumenko, reportedly arrived at the cathedral in a bus with a group of armed men. Upon arrival, they began assaulting UOC priests and forcing them out of the church. The so-called "titushky" brought Chokaliuk inside, dressed in civilian clothes, where he changed into a cassock. Cameras placed inside the cathedral captured him in clerical attire.

Despite the existence of video footage and eyewitness testimony, OCU activists from Mamaivtsi deny any wrongdoing by their cleric.

“It is with regret that we must note that certain individuals connected with forces hostile to Ukraine are spreading false testimonies and public defamatory accusations in an attempt to discredit Father Ivan. We firmly believe these accusations are unfounded and politically motivated, aimed at undermining the authority of the Ukrainian clergy. Our community expresses its trust and support for Father Ivan,” the statement reads.

As previously reported by the UOJ, the seizure of the UOC’s Holy Spirit Cathedral in Chernivtsi on June 17 was coordinated by Ivan Chokaliuk, the uncle of OCU head Epifaniy and an aide to Theognost, head of the OCU's Bukovynian eparchy.

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