UOC church seized in the village of Spaska, Bukovina

On May 12, 2025, the UOC church, dedicated to Saint John Sochavsky, was seized in the village of Spaska, Bukovina. The seizure was led by the already well-known controversial cleric of the OCU, Roman Gryschuk. This was reported by the church community in an interview with UOJ.

According to local believers, the perpetrators first broke the side doors and then, after entering, smashed the 19th-century antique lock on the main doors.

It is also reported that after the OCU raiders entered the church and took control of the holy site, the police arrived at the scene, but their role was only that of observers.

Earlier, it was also reported that the head of the Volodymyr-Volynsk OCU Diocese, Matfei Shevchuk, believes that despite all efforts, the state will not be able to completely destroy the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. In his opinion, the UOC will still retain its clergy, parishes, and believers, and therefore the state can only significantly limit the canonical Church’s rights.