Archimandrite speaks of OCU provocations at funeral in Stari Broskivtsi

Archimandrite Vissarion. Photo: UOJ

On August 10, 2026, Archimandrite Vissarion (Chykal), rector of the St Paraskeva parish of the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Eparchy of the UOC in Stari Broskivtsi, spoke about provocations by representatives of the OCU during the funeral of Hero of Ukraine Oleksandr Reus, a UOJ correspondent reports.

According to the archimandrite, after the memorial prayers, OCU representatives devoted a significant part of their sermon to political issues and the war, while the deceased soldier’s relatives were in need above all of spiritual support. “When a mother is in such immense pain, when her heart aches, when this is such a devastating blow to the soul because she has lost her son – what comes from the mouths of OCU representatives is some kind of political propaganda,” he said. The archimandrite stressed that a clergyman should “preach the Word of God, not engage in politics.”

Father Vissarion also noted that the sermon said almost nothing about Oleksandr Reus himself. “And that was all – only about the war, and not a word about the soldier himself, his biography, his achievements or other things that could have brought comfort to his mother, wife and entire family,” the archimandrite said. Commenting on the political nature of the sermon, he added that such clergy “should be handed not the Gospel but some political book – perhaps the Constitution of Ukraine.”

Archimandrite Vissarion also said that during the funeral, accusations of being pro-Russian were directed at him and members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. At the same time, he stressed, the parish has repeatedly helped Ukrainian servicemen. “We gave money for a vehicle, as well as funds for food and clothing. And we did this because we feel that it is our duty to help our soldiers,” the rector said. “And it is very hurtful and distressing when you fulfill this sacred duty and then get called a ‘Moskal’,” he added.

The archimandrite separately addressed the mobilization of UOC clergy. According to him, priests, deacons and monastics are being detained by representatives of the Territorial Recruitment Centers (TRC) and sent into military service. “Our priests, deacons and monastics really are being detained by the TRC and sent to war. And our clergy are serving and fighting,” he said. At the same time, Father Vissarion said this creates a contradiction: “As long as we remain in the rear, we are called accomplices of the Russian Federation, but when we are detained and sent to the front line, then we suddenly become heroes.”

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the TRC had detained a protodeacon of the Neshcheriv Monastery.

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