Holy Spirit Cathedral of the UOC under seizure in Chernivtsi
Beaten UOC priest and group of raiders on cathedral grounds
On June 17, 2025, a group of radically inclined representatives of the OCU carried out an attempted violent takeover of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, the main cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Chernivtsi.
According to eyewitnesses, around 50 aggressively behaving raiders stormed the cathedral grounds, using physical force against clergy and parishioners.
Several people sustained serious injuries during the attack, some of whom were hospitalized.
In a video, a woman recounts that two of the attackers who beat a priest were detained by police. However, law enforcement officers reportedly remained largely inactive and did not intervene in the unfolding events.
The attackers blocked all entrances to the church and continued to assault anyone who tried to approach the sacred building.
Local believers say the assault was premeditated and occurred with the complete inaction of the police, despite numerous emergency calls.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that believers in Chernivtsi had spent the night in churches fearing possible seizures.
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.