Hundreds of faithful from persecuted UOC community mark patronal feast

Believers of the persecuted UOC community in the village of Zabolottia, Chernivtsi region. Photo: UOC

On August 2, 2026, around 400 faithful gathered in the village of Zabolottia, Chernivtsi region, for the patronal feast of the persecuted Holy Prophet Elijah community of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, reports a UOJ correspondent.

The festive Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the new church, the construction of which parishioners began after the seizure of their former church. Due to the large number of worshippers, some of the faithful prayed in the church courtyard. Numerous cars were parked along the road near the church, with some vehicles remaining outside the frame.

The Divine Liturgy was led by the rector of the St. Paraskeva parish in the village of Stari Broskovtsi, Archimandrite Vissarion (Chikal). He was co-served by the clergy of the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Eparchy and the community's rector, Mitred Protopriest Mykola Tsurkan.

During the service, prayers were offered for peace in Ukrainian land, deliverance from the enemy, aid for those who have lost their homes, and for blessings upon all those who support those in need. After the Liturgy, the clergy and faithful held a procession around the church, with the reading of the Gospel and the sprinkling of holy water.

As a reminder, on May 30, 2025, the Prophet Elijah Church in Zabolottia was seized by representatives of the OCU with the participation of chaplains and people in military uniforms. At the conclusion of the feast, Archimandrite Vissarion congratulated the parishioners, and Protopriest Mykola Tsurkan thanked the clergy and faithful for their common prayer.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that social media users had shown a decaying church-monument of architectural heritage in the Poltava region.

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