After Chernivtsi mass brawl, Ukraine urges Romanian Church to recognize OCU
Ambassador of Ukraine to Romania Ihor Prokopchuk. Photo: Saul Pop
On June 26, 2025, the Ambassador of Ukraine to Romania, Ihor Prokopchuk, demanded full recognition of the OCU by the Romanian Orthodox Church, stating that it "would strengthen relations and trust between the nations of our countries," reports the Romanian publication agerpres.
"I emphasize the paramount importance of the issue of full recognition of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine by the Romanian Orthodox Church," said Ihor Prokopchuk at a press conference.
Paradoxically, the diplomat referred to the bloodbath that OCU militants staged on June 17 during the attempted seizure of the Holy Spirit Cathedral of the UOC in Chernivtsi.
He stated that "our interest lies in ensuring that this process (of the OCU recognition by the Romanian Church - Ed.) is completed as soon as possible."
“There are no ethnic motives in this conflict, which arose between two religious organizations (…) the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church under the aegis of Moscow,” stated Prokopchuk, adding that many people in Bukovina “do not want to associate themselves with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.”
The ambassador assured that Russia is interested in the OCU's attack on the UOC cathedral, as it "would increase the level of distrust between Romania and Ukraine". He promised that the authorities would "take measures to ensure that disputes in the region are resolved peacefully."
Earlier, the UOJ reported that an EP member called on Romania to condemn the violence against priests in Chernivtsi.
Read also
In Spain, murderer moved to women's prison after claiming to be female
A Spaniard convicted of a series of brutal murders has secured a transfer to a women's prison allegedly based on a change of gender identity.
Georgian Patriarchate warns about fake social media pages
The Georgian Orthodox Church has stated that unknown individuals are using official symbols to create fake social media pages.
Court extends round-the-clock house arrest for Metropolitan Arseniy
The Chechelivsky Court of Dnipro left the abbot of the Sviatohirsk Lavra under house arrest and allowed him to attend medical procedures without separate permission.
OCU shows number of parishioners in seized church of Bezuhlivka
About 15 people with flags stood at the first "service" at St. Michael's Church after the seizure.
In Kyiv, OCU and UGCC сhaplains given an introductory tour of synagogue
Ukraine’s chief rabbi said that clergy of the OCU, UGCC, and RCC familiarized themselves with Jewish tradition at a synagogue.
OCU outraged that Lepliavo parish removed church property before seizure
The Cherkasy Eparchy of the OCU complained that after the fake “transfer” in Lepliavo, UOC faithful left them nothing but bare walls.