Preparations for another seizure of UOC cathedral in Chernivtsi underway

The Holy Spirit Cathedral of the UOC in Chernivtsi. Photo: rbc.ua

Information has been received about preparations for another attempt to seize the Holy Spirit Cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, reported believers of the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Eparchy on their Facebook page.

The clergy and believers called for prayer for the preservation of peace and prevention of unlawful actions against the shrine.

The eparchy emphasized the importance of observing the law and called for preventing violence.

According to a UOJ source, the organizers of the seizure may use the element of surprise. There is a version that the assault is planned to coincide with the patronal feast or with celebrations in honor of the recent canonization in the OCU of Metropolitan Yevhen Hakman, under whom the cathedral was built.

It also became known that there was a detail indicating the direct interest of the security forces in the provocation: according to available information, the deputy head of the Main Directorate of the National Police in the Chernivtsi region, who took part in the initial assault on the cathedral, was promised the rank of general if he managed to see the seizure through to the end.

Earlier, UOJ wrote that the court rules to give the Holy Spirit Cathedral of the UOC in Chernivtsi to the OCU.

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