In Transcarpathia, UOC cleric falls into schism and joins OCU

Archpriest Vitaly Lychak, a cleric of the Mukachevo Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, who previously headed the St. Michael’s parish of the UOC in the village of Pasika, Mukachevo district, Zakarpattia region, has fallen into schism and joined the OCU. This decision was formalized on February 26, 2026, after a meeting with the head of the Mukachevo-Carpathian Diocese of the OCU, Viktor Bedem.

According to the press service of the Mukachevo-Carpathian Diocese of the OCU, a meeting between Viktor Bede and Archpriest Vitaly Lychak took place on February 26, 2026. During the conversation, Archpriest Lychak announced his resignation from the clergy of the Mukachevo Diocese of the UOC and requested to be admitted to the Mukachevo-Carpathian Diocese of the OCU.

Viktor Bed, having studied the submitted personal file documents and conducted an interview, made a positive decision. Archpriest Vitaliy Lychak was officially admitted to the Mukachevo-Carpathian Diocese of the OCU, and was presented with the relevant decree and certificate.

As reported earlier, an internal conflict in the OCU is breaking out in the Rivne region . on February 22, 2026, the head of the Rivne-Volyn OCU, Gabriel Kryzyna, signed a decree banning Pavel Sabara, the rector of St. George’s Church in Kostopol, from the ministry. The reason was an attempt by the «priest» to transfer to another diocese, which caused active indignation among parishioners who voted for such a transfer.