Cherkasy mayor: FSB-MP occupies two remaining churches only temporarily

Anatolii Bondarenko. Photo: 18000

Anatolii Bondarenko, the mayor of Cherkasy who personally oversaw the seizure of several churches belonging to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), stated that the remaining two UOC parishes in the city are only “temporarily” present in their churches.

“This is the fault of both the authorities and the communities. I think the Cherkasy community should soon correct its mistakes. After all, the decision was made long ago. One could say that representatives of the FSB–Moscow Patriarchate are only temporarily staying in those buildings,” Bondarenko declared.

He added that “everyone already understands that Ukraine must have a single, local, national Church.”

At present, out of ten UOC churches in Cherkasy, eight have already been seized.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that Metropolitan Theodosiy warned Bondarenko that he would have to answer for his acts of banditry against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Read also

Vatican again lets OCU approach St. Nicholas' relics

With the assistance of the Ukrainian embassy, OCU clerics served a “liturgy” in the crypt of the papal basilica in Bari.

Exhibition about “church rascism” touring across Ukraine

Experts believe the exhibition about “church rascism” is aimed at the UOC, since the authorities portray it as “Moscow's.”

Cypriot hierarch calls 2026 the year of "spiritual trials"

Metropolitan Neophytos of Morphou warned the faithful about coming trials and urged repentance and participation in the Divine Liturgy.

Metropolitan Lazar (Shvets) departs to the Lord

At the age of 86, Metropolitan Lazar of Simferopol and Crimea has reposed in the Lord.

UOC deacon's family home burned down in Pohreby, believers ask for help

After a gas explosion, two sons of Deacon Olexiy Orlov underwent surgeries, the family asks for prayers and help in finding housing.

Britain records highest number of abortions in history

In England, Scotland and Wales, nearly 300 thousand abortions were performed in 2023.