Pilgrims from Zakarpattia Supported the Persecuted UOC Community in Kerstentsi
Zakarpattian pilgrims traditionally stopped at the community before the cross procession to the Pochaiv Lavra.
Pilgrims from Zakarpattia 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. This was reported by the faithful of the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Diocese of the UOC on Facebook.
The rector of the Protection of the Theotokos parish in the village of Vladychna, Mitrophor Archpriest Alexander Cheban, led the festive All-Night Vigil in a 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 Zakarpattian 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 forcibly seized their former 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 TCC, 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 Tymofieiev, unanimously confirmed their loyalty 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.
