During the seizure of the UOC cathedral in Chernivtsi, OCU activists stole parish funds

On June 17, 2025, during the forceful takeover of the Holy Spirit Cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Chernivtsi, individuals identified as supporters of the OCU stole more than 60,000 hryvnias from the church. This was reported by the Union of Orthodox Journalists.

According to CCTV footage, after UOC clergy were assaulted and forcibly removed from the cathedral, the attackers began breaking into the church kiosk and auxiliary rooms. One of these rooms contained the parish’s cash reserve.

The video shows how the perpetrators, after unsuccessful attempts to kick down the doors and break the locks with a crowbar, eventually gained entry and accessed the parish funds.

It should be noted that major Greek church outlets — Romfea and The Orthodox Times — published articles on the attempted seizure of the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Chernivtsi by OCU supporters. The authors express shock at the events and call on Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to intervene in what they describe as a «disgraceful situation» unfolding within Ukrainian Orthodoxy.