Cleric of Chernihiv Eparchy of UOC banned from priesthood for falling into schism

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church has decided to ban from the priesthood priest Alexander Yakovenko, a cleric of the Chernihiv Eparchy. This decision was made on December 27, 2025, due to his falling into schism.

According to the diocesan press service of the Chernihiv Eparchy on Facebook, Priest Alexander Yakovenko, who was the rector of the Intercession parish in the village of Lavy, Sosnitsky Deanery, was banned for falling into schism. This is a serious violation of the canonical order and church discipline.

Earlier, we reported that the rector of the parish in honor of the Apostle John the Theologian in the village of Kiselevka, Chernihiv district, Chernihiv region, Archimandrite Seraphim (Lisovy), fell into schism and joined the OCU. The event took place on August 6, 2025.