Supporters of OCU seize historic UOC church in Bezuhlivka, Chernihiv region
The seizure of St. Michael’s UOC church in the village of Bezuhlivka. Photo: Dozor
On April 16, 2026, representatives of the OCU seized the historic St. Michael’s Church of the UOC in the village of Bezuhlivka in Chernihiv region. According to the Dozor Telegram channel, the raiders cut the locks and stormed the House of God, declaring it their own.
According to the channel, the falsification of documents for the church began as early as September 2025. People with no connection to the church’s religious community voted to “transfer” the shrine to the OCU. On January 28, 2026, the church was illegally re-registered.
Throughout this period, OCU activists allegedly incited hatred against the church’s rector, Fr. Yaroslav Sobolevskyi, and spread false claims that he had refused to conduct funeral services for servicemen.
On Pascha, representatives of Dumenko’s structure held a “blessing of baskets” outside the church. Then, on Bright Thursday, they broke into the church itself.
“Thank God, the parish managed to save the icons and church vessels, which greatly displeased the raiders. According to our sources, OCU cleric Ivan Honchar, who took part in the seizure, is a well-known admirer of antique icons, which he apparently planned to steal,” Dozor wrote.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that the authorities in Sloviansk transferred the UOC cathedral to the OCU.
Read also
US Helps Restore Orthodox Church in Turkey After Earthquake
US Deputy Chief of Mission in Turkey Alice Abdalla inspected a Greek Orthodox church in Antakya damaged by the 2023 earthquake.
Greece Signs Memorandum on Protection of Jerusalem Patriarchate's Shrines
The Greek Parliament will ratify next week a document on the protection of the cultural heritage of the Jerusalem Patriarchate.
A Hierarch of the Greek Church Called the Imposition of LGBT Marriages a Threat
Metropolitan Seraphim of Kythira called on families to become a "domestic church" amid threats to the Christian family in Greek laws and school curricula.
Patriarch Bartholomew flew to Budapest for the opening of an Orthodox center
The Ecumenical Patriarch arrived in Hungary, where he will preside over the consecration of the Orthodox center "Phanarion".
OCU Raiders Staged Attack on Seized Church in Kyiv – Media
OCU "hierarch" Serhiy Horobtsov published a provocative post online regarding the St. John's Church in Bykivnia seized by his people.