OCU provocateurs at Chernivtsi cathedral linked to violent seizures
The “prayer warriors” of the OCU turned out to be participants in church raids. Photo: UOJ
Two clerics of the OCU who on October 10 attempted to enter the Holy Spirit Cathedral of the UOC in Chernivtsi to hold a “moleben” turned out to have been involved in previous violent church seizures. The UOJ was informed of this by residents of the Bukovynian village of Zastavna, where these same “prayer warriors” had personally taken part in a church takeover and beaten parishioners.
Footage sent from Zastavna shows one of the provocateurs, together with a fellow “priest,” breaking open the gates to the Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos with a crowbar.
Once inside the church grounds, the same provocateur threw an elderly female parishioner to the ground and struck another woman several times with his elbow.
Cleric of the OCU Ioann Chokaliuk, said to be Epifaniy Dumenko’s uncle, also took part in the seizure of the UOC church in Zastavna.
Recall that on May 16, 2025, a group of raiders led by OCU clerics seized the UOC Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in the village of Zastavna, Chernivtsi region.
On June 17, 2025, OCU clerics headed by Chokaliuk brought a gang of thugs to the Holy Spirit Cathedral of the UOC in Chernivtsi, where they brutally beat the priests and seized the sacred site for several hours.
On October 10, 2025, two OCU clerics staged another provocation at the Chernivtsi cathedral, claiming they had “the blessing of Bishop Theognost to serve molebens” and that they were “residents of Chernivtsi.”
Read also
Norway to ban social media for under-16s
Norwegian authorities intend to require social media platforms to verify users’ ages and ban access for children under 16 in order to safeguard their mental health.
Pashinyan calls on Armenian Church to reform and replace Catholicos
Armenia’s prime minister spoke of taxes for the Armenian Church, accused it of politicization, and proposed reforms, including replacing the Catholicos and increasing state oversight.
DESS registers "Ukrainian Interchurch Council"
The association has received official status and called for protecting the constitutional status of the family from Supreme Court rulings.
Conspiracy by archbishop and mayor against Met Tychikos exposed in Cyprus
The acting mayor of Paphos has testified to police that Archbishop Georgios instructed the former mayor to publicly smear the hierarch in order to conceal financial dealings worth millions of euros.
TRC abducts Archimandrite Rufin, monk of Odesa monastery
The clergyman was reportedly pulled out of a taxi in Odesa and taken to a training center near Kharkiv, where he is said to be now.
Surge in pilgrim numbers recorded on Mount Athos, administrator says
Amid wars and global instability, the number of pilgrims visiting Mount Athos has risen to as many as 1,500 per day, placing strain on monasteries and infrastructure.