Shock claim: OCU militants defile altar as toilet in Chernivtsi cathedral
OCU militants on the cathedral grounds. Photo: UOJ
For several hours on June 17, 2025, while OCU militants held the seized Holy Spirit Cathedral in Chernivtsi, they desecrated the altar by turning it into a toilet and also used it as a smoking area. This was reported by several UOC representatives.
In particular, Metropolitan Longin of Bancheny, in remarks following a court hearing on June 18, stated that OCU militants, during the seizure of the cathedral, “entered the altar” and relieved themselves there.
Metropolitan Meletiy of Chernivtsi, speaking the day after the seizure, said that the militants committed “such vile acts in the altar that they cannot even be spoken of aloud, satisfying their needs there.”
Cathedral parishioner Ivan Khmelevskyi, in an interview with Tetiana Tsaruk, reported that the attackers used holy water buckets as toilets.
“I’ll put it bluntly – they defecated there. It was inside the cathedral: in the altar and in the vestry,” Khmelevskyi said.
Recall that earlier it became known who participated in the seizure of the UOC church in Chernivtsi.
Read also
Congresswoman to Ukrainian ambassador: Imprisoning Christians is never good
Anna Paulina Luna wrote to Stefanishyna that justifying the actions of the Ukrainian authorities against the UOC is not good.
Lavra abbot concelebrates with His Beatitude in Boryspil after long break
On the Sunday after the Nativity of Christ, Metropolitan Pavel concelebrated with the Primate of the UOC at the Boryspil Cathedral.
The Patriarch of Bulgaria revealed that the issue of the OCU was discussed in Istanbul
According to the head of the BPC, during the visit to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Ukrainian issue was considered with respect for the position of the Bulgarian Church.
Shevchuk to Cherkasy officials: UGCC is on the information war front lines
The head of the UGCC told officials in Cherkasy region that the church has become an important participant in the information war.
Ukraine’s ambassador to U.S. tells congresswoman why authorities target UOC
According to Stefanishyna, the UOC speaks about persecution because it is “linked to Moscow”.
Christmas procession visits UOC churches in Kamianske
A procession with revered shrines is taking place in the city, before which prayers are offered for peace and for the people of Kamianske.