In Sudobychi, new church built to replace seized temple

Metropolitan Pimen consecrating a new church. Photo: Rivne Eparchy

Metropolitan Pimen consecrating a new church. Photo: Rivne Eparchy

On November 14, 2025, Metropolitan Pimen consecrated a new church in the village of Sudobychi, which was built to replace the one seized by UOC-KP activists, reports the press service of the Rivne Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

At the solemn Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan Pimen of Rivne and Ostroh, together with the clergy of the Dubno Deanery, consecrated the Church of the Holy Unmercenaries Cosmas and Damian. Under the omophorion of the bishop, the parishioners offered prayers for peace in Ukraine, victory over the enemy, and the strengthening of faith, hope, and love among all the faithful.

The rector of the church, Archpriest Andriy Mykytiuk, thanked the parishioners and benefactor Andriy Biba for financing the construction and organizing the work.

As reported by the UOJ, in Mynkivtsi, Rivne region, OCU activists are preparing to seize a UOC church. Religious communities in the region repeatedly face attempts of pressure and seizure of church buildings, which strengthens the believers' desire to build their own churches.

As the UOJ wrote the UOC believers in Sudobychi lost their church in 2014. It was seized by representatives of the Kyiv Patriarchate, the predecessor of the OCU.

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