OCU announces “inventory” of UOC church in Rivne region

Supporters of the OCU in the city of Varash, Rivne region, have announced an “inventory” in the Transfiguration Cathedral of the Sarny Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The organization claims that the temple belongs to them, and therefore they demand that the priests and believers of the UOC not prevent the adherents of the OCU from “peacefully entering the temple.” The “inventory” is scheduled for May 15. The announcement was published on social networks.

“The request to the former rectors of the cathedral is to provide access to all buildings and property on the territory of the cathedral and to delegate their representatives for the peaceful and civilized transfer of the complex to the rightful owner — the religious community of the OCU,” — the announcement reads.

In turn, the clergy and believers of the Transfiguration Cathedral of the UOC of Varash, who have been holding the complex of buildings illegally re-registered in favor of the OCU for more than two years, announced a prayerful standing on May 15 to protect the church from raider seizure.

As reported, on April 5, 2023, representatives of the local branch of the OCU convened a so-called territorial meeting, during which, using administrative resources, they voted to re-register the Transfiguration of the Saviour religious community of the UOC in the city of Varash, Rivne region, in favor of the OCU. The OCU took such illegal actions in order to further appropriate the Transfiguration Cathedral of the UOC, which was built by the community. However, since then, supporters of the OCU, lacking sufficient human resources and support in