Heads of the UGCC and Cherkasy Diocese of the OCU meet in the seized premises of the UOC Cherkasy Diocese

During a visit to Cherkasy on January 11, the head of the UGCC, Sviatoslav Shevchuk, met with the head of the Cherkasy Diocese of the OCU, Ioan Yaremenko. The purpose of the visit was «Christmas greetings and confirmation of the desire to develop constructive fraternal relations between the churches.» It is noteworthy that the event was organized in the premises of the Cherkasy Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which was barbarically seized by supporters of the OCU in 2024.

According to the Information Department of the UGCC, Sviatoslav Shevchuk arrived in Cherkasy accompanied by representatives of the UGCC. The visit was organized «in the spirit of the traditional Christmas ‘ carol’ » , despite the fact that both denominations celebrated Christmas back in December 2025.

«When we visited Cherkasy, we could not ignore Metropolitan John, so we visited him with a carol and conveyed Christmas and New Year’s wishes. This visit testifies to our respect for our Orthodox brothers,» said the head of the UGCC.

It is worth noting that the photos published by the UGCC press service clearly show that the event took place in the premises of the Diocesan Administration of the Cherkasy Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which was seized in 2024. Then, we recall, militants from right-wing radical organizations hired by local representatives of the OCU, beating the clergy and believers of the UOC, seized the Archangel Michael Cathedral of the UOC and adjacent premises, including the aforementioned diocesan administration.

Earlier, we reported that the Cherkasy City Council decided to transfer the land plot under St. Michael’s Cathedral to the ownership of the OCU. This decision, according to sources, was made contrary to the law and, according to opponents, under pressure from local authorities and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).