The largest Greek church media wrote about an attempt to seize the UOC Cathedral in Chernivtsi by supporters of the OCU

The largest Greek church media outlets Romfea and The Orthodox Times published materials on the unsuccessful attempt by supporters of the OCU to seize the Holy Spirit Cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Chernivtsi. The authors of the publications do not hide their shock at the incident and call on Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople to finally intervene in the “shameful situation” taking place in Ukrainian Orthodoxy.

“Serious incidents occurred in the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Chernivtsi, the beating of a priest was recorded on a video posted on social media. According to the statement of the Department of Information and Education of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine of June 18, 2025, one of the parishioners posted a video on Facebook made on the day of the attempted seizure of the church. The video captures the moment when supporters of the Autocephalous Church (OCU – Ed.) brutally attacked the priest of the church, who had broken ribs, stitches on his eyebrow and damaged internal organs,” – the Romfea news agency noted.

In turn, the Greek-American edition of The Orthodox Times criticized the radicalism of the OCU and the seizure of UOC churches. The publication noted that the attempted seizure of the UOC Cathedral in Chernivtsi was carried out by hooligans who have no relation to the Church. Moreover, The Orthodox Times notes that most of the UOC churches previously seized by supporters of the OCU remain empty.

“The recent events in Chernivtsi painfully emphasize the impasse in which Orthodoxy in Ukraine has found itself, despite the efforts of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to unite Ukrainians under the authority of the Autocephalous Church. According to orthodoxtimes.com, persons who have no relation to the Church attacked the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church under the leadership of Metropolitan Onufriy in the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Chernivtsi. The footage shared on social media is heartbreaking. Young men wearing masks and hoods, looking more like hooligans than Orthodox believers, attacked parishioners outside the cathedral, including a priest who was running away from the angry crowd. The group then appeared to drag the man several meters along the ground, hitting him. It is important to note that, according to orthodoxtimes.com, most of the churches seized by the UOC – by force or otherwise – remain closed,” – the article emphasizes.

In addition, The Orthodox Times pointed out that such tactics are openly supported by the clergy of the OCU. The media believes that the situation in Chernivtsi is a clear illustration of how the “unification” of Orthodoxy, on which Patriarch Bartholomew counted, is taking place in Ukraine.

“It is also significant that the priests of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine participate in these violent acts or even encourage them by openly publishing information about them on social networks. Orthodoxtimes.com has learned from reliable sources that some clergy of the OCU privately approve of these tactics, but refrain from public comment. […] A paradox that is often not understood by other Orthodox churches is why Ukrainians continue to fight among themselves in the face of a brutal war with Russia. This division shows the deep cracks within the Orthodox community of Ukraine. Perhaps it is time for the Ecumenical Patriarchate to take decisive steps to defuse the situation, as more and more people are beginning to blame the Phanar and Patriarch Bartholomew personally for the ongoing division and lack of unity in Ukrainian Orthodoxy. Incidents such as the one in Chernivtsi clearly illustrate how Metropolitan Bartholomew’s calls for dialogue and unity are perceived in Ukraine,” – The Orthodox Times added.

Earlier we reported that the head of the Chernivtsi Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Meletiy of Chernivtsi and Bukovyna, commented on the unsuccessful seizure of the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Chernivtsi. The bishop blamed Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople for the incident, saying that it was the granting of the Tomos and the legalization of the OCU that led to the fact that there is hostility and hatred towards the UOC in Ukraine.