Persecuted UOC parish celebrates Liturgy during Veneration of the Cross Week
A Divine service at the persecuted parish in Kerstentsi. Photo: UOJ
On March 15, 2026, on the third Sunday of Great Lent – the Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross, the persecuted UOC religious community of the Lord's Transfiguration in the village of Kerstentsi of the Khotyn Deanery of the Chernivtsi Eparchy celebrated the festive divine service. The parishioners, who due to circumstances have to pray in adapted premises, reverently venerated on their knees the Precious and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord.
After the completion of the Liturgy, the Sacrament of Holy Unction was performed at the parish. The Divine service was led by the rector of the community, mitred Archpriest Volodymyr Tymofeev. The spiritual service united the faithful who, despite the status of a "persecuted" parish, continue to lead a full church life and perform special Great Lent services.
The spiritual pastor, together with the faithful, offered heartfelt prayers to the Lord, asking Him to forgive sins, strengthen them in the struggle against temptations, grant spiritual strength and patience in trials, and send His gracious help to all who, with faith, bow before the Cross of Christ. The situation in Kerstentsi is an example of the steadfastness of Bukovyna communities that have preserved unity after the seizure of their churches by OCU supporters.
We recall that on February 28, 2025, the church community together with rector archpriest Volodymyr Tymofeev unanimously confirmed their faithfulness to the canonical Church. During the parish meeting, 250 believers voted to preserve the jurisdiction of the UOC under the omophorion of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry. On September 29, 2025, OCU activists seized the Transfiguration Church. The forceful action was led by Roman Hryshchuk from Hlyboka, backed by OCU chaplains and police officers. On the day of the incident, law enforcement blocked entry to the settlement.
Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the Kerstentsi community held its first Liturgy in a private home after the seizure.
Read also
Patriarch Daniel calls for preserving Church unity
In a sermon at St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia, the Bulgarian Primate emphasized humility, repentance, and fidelity to the Orthodox faith as the path to overcoming divisions.
Bulgarian and Constantinople Patriarchs attend Liturgy at Sofia Cathedral
Metropolitan Barnabas presided over the Liturgy at St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia as part of celebrations marking two anniversaries of St. John of Rila.
Prosecutors seek to seize Dormition Church from UOC community in Pisky
Prosecutors are seeking to transfer a wooden church in Poltava Region, handed over to believers in 1992, to state ownership under the regional administration.
Metropolitan Onuphry: Love for enemies destroys evil, revenge multiplies it
The UOC Primate urged believers to forgive those who wrong them and do good without expecting gratitude or reward.
UOC's Sign Church damaged in Kherson air strike
In Kherson, Russian airstrikes shatter windows and damage the façade of the UOC’s Church of the Sign.
Yelensky: Not recognizing OCU means indirectly denying Ukrainian statehood
Viktor Yelensky believes that Local Churches that do not recognize the OCU thereby indirectly fail to recognize Ukrainian statehood as well.