OCU raiders seal UOC church in Novi Vorobyi after rector’s mobilization
Church of the Nativity of the Mother of God in Novi Vorobyi. Photo: UOJ
On May 30, 2026, another seizure of a UOC church took place, this time in the village of Novi Vorobyi in Zhytomyr region: unidentified persons sealed the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos and blocked parishioners from entering it. This was reported by the Dozor Telegram channel.
The raiders announced plans to hold a fictitious parish meeting in order to re-register the community under the OCU. UOC parishioners were forbidden to attend their own church. The date of these meetings has not yet been specified. Notably, the seizure occurred shortly after the mobilization of the rector, Hieromonk Ilia.
As the UOJ reported, police in Zhytomyr region detained a UOC monk and handed him over to the TRC. According to the source, the seizure in Novi Vorobyi became possible after officers of the territorial recruitment center forcibly mobilized the rector, Hieromonk Ilia. His absence was used to illegally seal the church.
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.