Head of Khmelnytsky Eparchy of the UOC supports believers of St. Nicholas Cathedral in Khmelnytsky

On May 21, 2025, Metropolitan Victor (Kotsaba) of Khmelnytsky and Starokonstantinovka arrived at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Khmelnytsky to support the parishioners of the church, whose radicals disrupted the festive service and the visit of the Primate of the UOC. The hierarch thanked the believers for their steadfastness and called for forgiveness of all offenders who show hatred for the Church and believers. The video with the bishop’s statement was published on the YouTube channel “Faithful”.

“We will never forget this holiday. It will forever remain in our memory and will be imprinted in our hearts. I sincerely thank you for your fortitude, for your courage, for standing up for each other. For our strength is in our unity. For patience, for humility, and for love. We love each other, even those who do not love us. Embrace each other, even those who do not want to embrace us. We support each other… because God is love. And this is our main weapon,” — the bishop said.

We recall that on May 21, 2025, the city authorities of Khmelnytsky disrupted the visit of the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine, which was timed to the 35th anniversary of the revival of the Khmelnytsky Diocese of the UOC. According to the announcement, on May 21-22, the Primate of the UOC was to be in Khmelnytsky, where he was to consecrate the local St. Nicholas Cathedral. However, on the initiative of local authorities, special equipment and crowd consisting of radicals and supporters of the OCU were driven to the church. The protesters blocked access to the church, which resulted in the cancellation of Metropolitan Onufriy’s visit.