Case opened against organizer of UOC believers’ cross procession in Bukovyna

Procession to the hermitage of Xenia of Petersburg. Photo: Union of Orthodox Journalists

Law enforcement officers drew up an administrative protocol against the organizer of a Ukrainian Orthodox Church procession that took place on 5 February 2026 in Bukovyna, Chernivtsi Region. This was reported by the police in a comment to ZAXID.NET.

The faithful, who walked in prayer to a service at the skete dedicated to Blessed Xenia of St Petersburg in the village of Molnytsia, were accused of violating the law.

Police said that under martial law, religious processions are prohibited by a decision of the Defense Council of Chernivtsi Region dated 12 August 2022. According to police spokeswoman Karolina Marysheva, a protocol was drawn up against the organizer under Article 185-1 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses, “Violation of the procedure for organizing and holding assemblies, rallies, street marches, and demonstrations.”

At the same time, representatives of the OCU publicly linked participation in the procession to “Russian influence.” The structure said that in the Hertsa community they continue to venerate “Russian saints,” for which Orthodox believers are branded as “supporters of the Russian world.” The controversial OCU cleric Roman Hryshchuk called the veneration of Blessed Xenia of St Petersburg and Matrona of Moscow “markers of the Russian world” and a “litmus test of affiliation with the ROC.”

As the UOJ wrote, on 5 February 2026, on the eve of the feast day of Blessed Xenia of St Petersburg, several hundred pilgrims – most of them young people – set out in a cross procession from the village of Ostrytsia near Chernivtsi to the village of Molnytsia near the Bancheny Monastery. They walked about 15 kilometers to take part in the evening service at the skete dedicated to the saint.

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