Priest in the village of Kamenna near Chernivtsi joins OCU
Drahynda and Bodoriak. Photo: OCU Press Service
On May 18, 2025, Orest Dragynda, rector of the Church of St. Seraphim of Sarov in the village of Kamenna near Chernivtsi, joined the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU). This was reported by the website of the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Eparchy of the OCU, which published a photo of Drahynda together with “bishop” Theognost Bodoriak.
The announcement states that Drahynda, “together with the religious community of the church... made a significant decision – to leave the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate and join the Local Orthodox Church of Ukraine.”
Earlier, the UOJ reported that, according to the head of the Department of Culture of the Chernivtsi Regional Administration, the authorities do not verify the legality of parish meetings on transitions to the OCU.
Read also
Greece signs memorandum on protection of Jerusalem Patriarchate's shrines
Next week, the Greek Parliament will ratify a document on the protection of the cultural heritage of the Jerusalem Patriarchate.
Greek bishop calls imposition of same-sex marriage a threat
Metropolitan Seraphim of Kythera urged families to become a “domestic church” amid threats to the Christian family in Greek laws and school curricula.
Patriarch Bartholomew arrives in Budapest for opening of Orthodox center
The Ecumenical Patriarch has arrived in Hungary, where he will preside over the consecration of the Orthodox center "Phanarion."
OCU raiders stage attack on seized church in Kyiv, media
OCU "hierarch" Serhiy Horobtsov published a provocative post online regarding St. John's Church in Bykivnia seized by his people.