Chernivtsi cathedral cleric comments on commission’s visit to seize church

Archpriest Roman Forost outside the cathedral in Chernivtsi. Photo: Pershyi Kozatskyi

On September 10, 2026, Ukraine’s state enforcement service, accompanied by police, left the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Chernivtsi, Pershyi Kozatskyi reports.

The commission inspected the cathedral premises as part of proceedings concerning the presence of employees and property belonging to the Chernivtsi Eparchy. That same day, hundreds of parishioners gathered at the cathedral to defend their holy site. For the time being, the authorities did not resort to force or attempt to seize the cathedral.

Cathedral cleric Archpriest Roman Forost addressed the parishioners, explaining the cathedral’s legal and practical status.

“The enforcement service inspected our cathedral under a court ruling. The bailiffs were checking whether eparchial employees work in the building. But the cathedral is a separate entity and has no financial or property ties to the eparchial administration.”

The priest clarified that the eparchy only appoints clergy, while the cathedral community itself administers the church. All property inside the cathedral belongs to the local parishioners.

“They carried out one part of the court ruling,” Archpriest Roman Forost stressed. “But there is another ruling ordering that a structure called the OCU be installed here – a structure that, through falsehood and legal loopholes, has taken legal possession of our church.”

Parishioners remain concerned that the cathedral is still under threat and that the commission may return under the pretext of enforcing that ruling.

The priest added that the community does not know the people who supposedly voted to re-register the church’s documents in the name of the OCU.

“The parishioners have never even seen Badariak, the head of that structure,” the priest concluded. “We pray for God’s mercy, live as Christians and safeguard our holy places in truth and righteousness.”

Archpriest Roman Forost was previously injured during the violent storming of the cathedral by OCU supporters on June 17, 2025. He was hospitalized with severe head injuries, broken ribs and suspected internal injuries. Other clergy were also injured in the attack.

The assault had been planned in advance and took place while police failed to intervene despite numerous calls for assistance.

As previously reported by the UOJ, reports that there was a court ruling concerning the cathedral were denied in Chernivtsi.

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