Persecuted community of Maliatyntsi celebrates first patronal feast after seizure

The Feast Day in the village of Maliatyntsi. December 19, 2025 Photo: UOJ

On December 19, 2025, in the village of Maliatyntsi of the Kitsman Deanery, Chernivtsi Eparchy, the persecuted community of the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, led by Archpriest Mykola Hubka, celebrated the patronal feast for the first time after the church was seized, reports a UOJ correspondent. During the Divine Liturgy, the rector was concelebrated by guests in holy orders.

As earlier reported, on the night of March 21-22, 2025, a group of OCU representatives, led by Mykola Herheliuk, seized the St. Nicholas Church in Maliatyntsi. Despite the results of the vote, according to which the majority of the meeting participants opposed the transition to the OCU, the police supported the raiders.

After the church seizure, the faithful arranged a space for conducting services. In September 2025, draftera abducted the rector of the church, Archpriest Mykola Hubka, and drove him around military units for several days.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that in Maly Kuchuriv, the persecuted UOC community celebrated the patronal feast.

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