The OCU has suspended a cleric of the UOC-KP following allegations of extortion and corruption

An internal church conflict has erupted between the leadership of the Drohobych-Sambir Diocese of the OCU and Andriy Rychak, a cleric of the UOC-KP. After the clergyman publicly accused the diocesan leadership of systematically extorting money and failing to fulfill their promises, “Bishop” Yakov Makarchuk officially suspended him from ministry. This was reported by SPZ.

In his open letter to OCU Head Epiphanius Dumenko, Andrei Rychak described in detail the reasons for the conflict. According to the cleric, “Bishop” Yakov Makarchuk violated a number of previous promises regarding parish appointments. For four years following a serious illness, Rychak worked on restoring the church in the village of Zavadka; however, instead of receiving support, he faced severe financial pressure and regular extortion by the diocesan administration.

The conflict reached a critical point when the community in Zavadka attempted to officially join the OCU. According to the clergyman, the transition process was blocked by the diocesan leadership, forcing the faithful to defend their rights in court. Rychak accused Makarchuk of usurping church authority, stating that Makarchuk treats the diocese as his private property, ignoring the will of the parishioners. The priest also reported instances of manipulation by the diocesan leadership regarding his child’s health.

This incident is not an isolated case within the organizational structure of the OCU. Similar precedents have been documented in the past, when clergy who had been suspended openly opposed the actions of their hierarchs, accusing them of abusing their power and disregarding the interests of their communities.