In Kerstentsi, Transfiguration Feast draws 7 times more UOC believers than OCU
The service in Kerstentsi on the Transfiguration Feast in the UOC community (left) and in the OCU (right). Collage: UOJ
The patronal feast on the Transfiguration Feast at the UOC church in Kerstentsi gathered more than three hundred people in the new church, while the same OCU Transfiguration service (according to the new calendar) at the church seized from the UOC was attended by only forty people, report the faithful of the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Eparchy of the UOC on Facebook.
During the Liturgy on August 19, 2026, more than three hundred faithful came to share the festive joy with the persecuted UOC community. Worshippers completely filled the newly built church, reaffirming their commitment to their Church.
Supporters of the OCU celebrated the patronal feast for the first time in the seized church on August 6. According to photos, around 40 people, including choir members, attended the OCU service. Nearly half of those present were visiting guests from neighboring settlements.
The faithful of the Transfiguration parish built the new church by their own efforts in a record short time — in less than a year. On August 19, 2026, Metropolitan Meletiy of Chernivtsi and Bukovyna consecrated the altar of the newly built Transfiguration Church.
Previously, the UOJ reported that on September 29, 2025, OCU supporters, backed by police and Roman Hryshchuk, seized the Transfiguration Church of the UOC community in Kerstentsi.
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