Kerstentsi community holds first Liturgy in private house after seizure
A Liturgy of the persecuted community in Kerstentsi. Photo: UOJ
On October 12, 2025, the first Liturgy of the Transfiguration community of the UOC took place in Bukovynian Kerstentsi after their church was seized by OCU raiders, the community reports to the UOJ.
The Liturgy attended by 40 parishioners was held in a private house. Thus, the community was without services for about two weeks.
On September 29, 2025, supporters of the OCU, led by the notorious raider from Hlyboka, seized the Transfiguration Church. Hryshchuk was accompanied by OCU chaplains and police officers. Law enforcement blocked the entrance to the village that day.
Earlier, the UOJ wrote that on February 28, 2025, the parishioners of the church, led by the rector Archpriest Volodymyr Tymofeev, held a vote on their church affiliation. All 250 parishioners present voted to remain in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church under the leadership of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry.
Read also
In Romania, memorial cross placed on site of church demolished under communism
In Bucharest, a monument was blessed on the site of the Spirea Veche Church, which was destroyed in 1984 for the construction of the "House of the People".
Pope calls European military spending as betrayal of diplomacy
The pontiff called on students not to confine themselves within national borders and ideologies.
Rada creates “Seeking the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness” association
The inter-factional parliamentary association in the Verkhovna Rada will be headed by MP Heorhiy Mazurashu.
Trial of Metropolitan Arseniy in Dnipro postponed until June
The hearing at the Chechelivka District Court was postponed due to the defense’s complaint over the replacement of the prosecutorial team and motions filed by three of the four lawyers.
Lviv City Hall loses court case again over demolition of OCU chapel
During the proceedings, the defense uncovered evidence of document falsification by the city authorities.
MP: You would be surprised how many Rada deputies consult fortune-tellers
MP Anna Skorokhod said the practice of turning to clairvoyants is widespread throughout Ukraine’s entire chain of power.