Persecuted UOC cathedral community holds worship in new premises

The community of the UOC cathedral at the Liturgy in an adapted room. Photo: official website of the Volodymyr-Volynskyi diocese of the UOC

On December 28, 2025, in Volodymyr, the community of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church’s cathedral served the Divine Liturgy in a makeshift premises instead of the church that had been taken from them, according to the official website of the Volodymyr-Volyn Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

The service was led by Metropolitan Volodymyr of Volodymyr-Volyn and Kovel. The Liturgy was celebrated in the new premises, while the cathedral – taken from the community – has stood empty for more than three months.

Before the service, the archpastor served a water-blessing prayer service and sprinkled the temporary premises with holy water. During the augmented litany, special petitions were offered for peace on Ukrainian soil.

At the end of the service, Metropolitan Volodymyr addressed the clergy and faithful with a sermon, calling them to preserve the Orthodox faith and unity: “Safeguard the Orthodox faith; let us be together, because in this lies our strength.”

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the OCU seized a UOC church in the village of Checheliivka.

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