Persecuted UOC parishes in Bukovyna celebrate Sunday of Myrrh-Bearing Women

Service in Zabolottia on the Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women. Photo: UOJ

On April 26, 2026, the Sunday of the Holy Myrrh-Bearing Women, solemn services were held in several parishes of the Chernivtsi Eparchy of the UOC that lost access to their churches due to the actions of OCU supporters. The faithful of the persecuted communities celebrated the feast in prayer in adapted premises.

Village of Zabolottia

In the community of Zabolottia in Bukovyna, the faithful marked the feast of the Myrrh-Bearing Women in a room adapted for prayer. The festive service was celebrated by the parish rector, Mitred Archpriest Mykola Tsurkan.

After the Liturgy, the pastor addressed the women of the parish with words of congratulations. In gratitude for their faithfulness to the canonical Church, the priest gave each woman a fresh flower.

Recall that on May 30, 2025, OCU clerics and activists, supported by police officers, broke into the territory of the UOC’s St. Elijah Church in Zabolottia and seized it by force. Despite the loss of the building, the community has preserved its unity and continues to hold services in a new place.

Village of Verkhni Stanivtsi

The UOC community in Verkhni Stanivtsi also celebrated the Divine Liturgy in a building the faithful had equipped for prayer after their church was seized. The festive service was led by the parish rector, Mitred Archpriest Ihor Pits.

At the end of the service, the rector, on his own behalf and on behalf of the church committee, congratulated all the women parishioners on Orthodox Women’s Day. Each woman was presented with flowers as a symbol of love, gratitude, and deep respect. A festive table with tea and coffee was prepared for the community, allowing the faithful to spend time together in a warm family atmosphere.

St. Nicholas Church in Verkhni Stanivtsi was seized by supporters of Dumenko’s structure on April 12, 2025. The first attempted night assault failed, as parishioners managed to drive out the attackers. However, on Lazarus Saturday, raiders led by Roman Hryshchuk broke down the doors and entered the church while police pushed parishioners back and created a “human corridor” for the intruders.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that hundreds of faithful from persecuted UOC parishes in Chornohuzy and Vyzhenka celebrated Pascha.

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