UOC community in Transcarpathia offered to join UGCC after refusing to join OCU

In the Transcarpathian village of Pasika, a public activist and military serviceman, Mykhailo Choknadiy, called on the faithful of the St. Michael’s community of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) to transfer to the UGCC. This initiative was voiced after the local community had already twice officially voted against the transfer to the jurisdiction of the OCU.

Choknadiy proposed to include the option of transferring to the Uniate on the voting agenda, arguing that it was due to the historical origin of the local church. According to the activist, St. Michael’s Church was originally built as a Uniate church, and returning to the «church of the ancestors» would be a logical step in case of unwillingness to join the OCU. However, representatives of the UOC refused to consider this proposal, insisting on maintaining the current canonical status.

Choknadiy’s initiative drew sharp criticism from local residents on social media. Users accused the activist of trying to sow discord among Ukrainians and questioned the sincerity of his religious motives. In particular, there were comments that such actions play into the hands of external forces, splitting society into «right and wrong» believers.

It is worth noting that the situation in Pasika remains tense, as this was the second unsuccessful attempt by OCU supporters to transfer the local parish to their jurisdiction. Despite the pressure, the overwhelming majority of parishioners reaffirmed their unwillingness to leave the UOC during the second vote.