Sokyryany. A group of OCU militants seized a UOC church

Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul of the UOC

Address: Chernivtsi region, Sokyryany, Peremohy Street, 3.

The St. Peter and Paul Church of the UOC in Sokyryany city became the target of the OCU raiders and local authorities in 2022. Representatives of the OCU directly threatened believers and clergy that they would use the city authorities to seize property and seize the temple.

The church was seized by militants hired by OCU clerics in 2024.

In the fall of 2023, a group of OCU clerics organized an illegal meeting of the territorial community on the square of Sokiryany city.

The raiders gathered people who had no relation to the parish of the church and passed them off as a religious community. By the decision of the illegal meeting, it was decided to transfer the temple to the OCU structure.

On November 12, 2023, an initiative group led by Antonina Yakubovskaya tried to seize the temple.

Despite the fact that more than 600 people voted for the "transition", about two dozen came to take away the temple.

Raiders were let to the temple territory, but were not allowed to enter the shrine. The police, who were present at the scene, did not allow a physical confrontation, and as a result, the raiders left.

Believers note that none of those who came to take away their church had ever been a member of the community, did not appear at services and had nothing to do with the Church.

(Source: UOJ)

On November 23, 2023, the church's religious community published a statement confirming that it remains within the UOC.

The church's rector, Archpriest Vasil Makovsky, reported that since 2019, the illegal re-registration of UOC communities into the OCU has been ongoing.
The religious community has used the church for 30 years and has always been open and continuously engaged in religious activities.

Throughout 2023, believers received repeated messages from the OCU representatives that they, with the help of state authorities, would seize the religious community and all its property.
As a result, the community decided to create a charitable foundation and transfer the property to its balance aiming to ensure the community's continued spiritual activities.

This is precisely what happened. Individuals with no connection to the religious community hoped to seize the community's place of worship through a hostile takeover. However, the security measures were triggered, and the community is able to continue its spiritual mission, which it has carried out for 30 years.
The clergy and believers turned to law enforcement, with no hope of assistance, and prepared a lawsuit, also with no hope of a fair ruling.

(Source: Facebook page "Faithful of the Chernivtsi -Bukovyna Diocese of the UOC")

On February 6, 2024, a group of representatives of the OCU seized the church.

Around 8:00 p.m., several dozen people, led by OCU cleric Roman Hryshchuk, cut the lock on the door of the church's utility room ( ponomarka ).

The utility room has direct access through the altar to the main part of the church. Eyewitnesses reported that the raiders, including women, entered the church through the sacristan and the altar after breaking the lock. Afterwards, representatives of the OCU held a prayer service. Police officers were present in the church alongside the raiders, not only allowing them to remove the locks but also assisting in inspecting the altar.

Parishioners of the UOC began to gather in the church, standing up to defend their church.

The standoff lasted until evening. Police, citing the curfew, forced the worshippers to go home.

(Source: UOJ)

On February 7, 2024, OCU cleric Hryshchuk brought hired militants from the «Tiger» security firm to the church.

The raiders cut the locks on the church and finally captured the temple.

(Source: Project "Dozor on the First Cossack")