Pilgrims from Transcarpathia support persecuted UOC community in Kerstentsi

Pilgrims from Transcarpathia support the persecuted UOC community on its patronal feast day. Collage: UOJ

Pilgrims from Transcarpathia arrived in the Chernivtsi region to support the persecuted community of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The faithful came to the village of Kerstentsi on the eve of the community's patronal feast and set up tents on the parish grounds, reports the faithful of the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Eparchy of the UOC on Facebook.

The rector of the Protection of the Theotokos parish in the village of Vladychna, Mitrophor Archpriest Oleksandr Cheban, led the festive All-Night Vigil in the premises adapted for use as a church. After the prayer service ended, pilgrims arrived at the community's grounds and decided to spend the night in tents right in the church garden. People filled the parish courtyard, pitched their tents, and prepared for the morning festive Divine Liturgy.

This visit by Transcarpathian pilgrims to Kerstentsi has become a traditional event before their participation in the multi-day cross procession to the Pochaiv Lavra, which begins annually from Kamianets-Podilskyi. After the patronal feast concludes, the faithful will set out toward the main shrine of Volhynia.

The faithful of Kerstentsi pray in an adapted premises after OCU supporters seized their Transfiguration Church on September 29, 2025. The raider seizure was accompanied by Roman Hryshchuk and police officers who blocked the entrance to the settlement. Previously, OCU activists had postponed their meetings several times due to a lack of support from local residents. To ensure attendance, the organizers used threats of forced mobilization through the TRC, blackmail, and bribery, but managed to gather only about 40 people.

At the same time, on February 28, 2025, the parishioners of the Transfiguration Church, led by rector Archpriest Volodymyr Tymofeev, unanimously confirmed their faithfulness to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. During the community vote, 250 faithful testified their loyalty to the canonical Church, while not a single person spoke in favor of joining the OCU.

As the UOJ reported, the persecuted community in Stari Broskovtsi celebrated the feast in a new church.

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