Zelensky awards OCU cleric who oversaw Chernivtsi cathedral seizure
Ivan Chokaliuk with his uncle Epifaniy. Photo: UOJ
Volodymyr Zelensky awarded the OCU cleric, Ivan Chokaliuk, who oversaw the militants, who beat UOC priests during an attempted seizure of the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Chernivtsi on June 17, 2025. This was reported by the Chernivtsi RMA on its official Facebook page.
By the decree of President Zelensky No. 424/2025 "On state awards of Ukraine on the occasion of the Constitution Day of Ukraine," the OCU cleric Ivan Chokaliuk received the Order of Merit, 3d Class.
The order was issued "for significant merits in strengthening Ukrainian statehood, courage and dedication shown in defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, a significant personal contribution to the development of various spheres of public life, upholding the national interests of our state, and conscientious fulfillment of professional duty."
Earlier, the UOJ published a video proving that the seizure in Chernivtsi was overseen by Epifaniy's uncle, Ivan Chokaliuk.
Read also
Kyiv Metropolis seeks court-ordered dissolution of DESS
Lawyers representing the Ukrainian Orthodox Church argue that the state agency was created unlawfully and are seeking its dissolution over what they describe as pressure on believers.
OCU cleric urges to expel monks from Lavra under "wartime laws"
A cleric of the OCU, Heorhiy Kovalenko, proposed immediately evicting the monastic brotherhood of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra without waiting for final court verdicts.
In Pakistan, Muslim stabs Christian to death following argument over water
In Punjab, a Muslim slit the throat of his Christian colleague after forbidding him from using a shared water cooler on religious grounds.
RCC Cardinal: Europe’s rejection of Christianity will lead to its downfall
Cardinal Gerhard Müller stated that modern Europe is turning into a testing ground for atheistic experiments.
Israel condemns Nazi salutes of "Brotherhood" that seized UOC churches
Diplomats of Israel called on Ukraine to punish radicals for desecrating the memory of Nazi victims in the center of Kyiv.
In Rivne region, TRC abducts UOC cleric of Intercession Monastery
In the Rivne region, police officers brought a cleric of the UOC to the military enlistment office, where he was declared fit for service after a leg operation.