In the Khmelnytskyi region, a priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church defected to the schism and joined the OCU

The rector of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church community in honor of St. Michael the Archangel in the village of Zhilintsi, Khmelnytskyi region, Archpriest Roman Lavruk, defected to the schism and joined the OCU. It is noteworthy that the clergyman made this decision after a territorial meeting was held in Zhylynci, dedicated to the issue of changing the confessional affiliation of the local church of the UOC. This was reported by the Khmelnytskyi Diocese of the OCU.

According to the press service of the Khmelnytskyi Diocese of the OCU, a meeting on this matter took place at the diocesan administration. The head of the diocese, Pavlo Yuristy, personally met with Archpriest Roman Lavruk to formally formalize the transition.

During the meeting, the head of the Khmelnytskyi Diocese of the OCU welcomed the decision of the religious community and its spiritual leader. Yuristy issued the relevant decrees on the admission of the rector and the entire religious community to the Khmelnytskyi Diocese of the OCU.

“With great joy and brotherly love, we welcome Father Roman and the parishioners of St. Michael’s Church in the village of Zhylynci into the bosom of the single Local Ukrainian Orthodox Church, as this decision is a testament to living faith, spiritual maturity, and responsibility before God, the Church, and Ukraine,” – the OCU diocese emphasized.

We previously reported that Archimandrite Seraphim (Lisovyi), rector of the parish in honor of the Apostle John the Theologian in the village of Kyslyivka, Chernihiv district, Chernihiv region, defected to the OCU. The event took place on August 6, 2025.