OCU announces plans to take over UOC bishop’s church in Cherkasy

UOC Church of the Nativity of Christ in Cherkasy. Photo: UOC

The Cherkasy eparchy of the OCU published a decree by its head, Ivan Yaremenko, on “putting in order the liturgical, administrative, and parish life” of the Nativity of Christ Church in Cherkasy, which belongs to the Cherkasy Eparchy of the UOC.

The decree, dated February 10, 2026, speaks of the need to “restore lawful order in the parish” and to “ensure the community’s access to the church.” The OCU claims that the community allegedly decided to transfer into its jurisdiction, while the church is “in fact under the control of representatives of the UOC (MP) without any legal grounds.”

The Cherkasy eparchy of the OCU said it will take “all measures envisaged by law and canon law” in order to obtain control of the church.

The Cherkasy eparchy of the UOC told UOJ that it views this statement as preparation for a takeover of the Nativity of Christ Church.

Eparchy representatives stressed that a religious organization called “Parish of the Nativity of Christ of the Cherkasy Eparchy of the UOC (OCU)” does not exist at all – it is a fictitious structure. Moreover, there is no separate legal entity of the parish, since the church officially belongs to the legal entity of the Cherkasy eparchy of the UOC. The eparchy’s ownership rights to the Nativity of Christ Church were established by the late Metropolitan Sophroniy. The eparchy provided the UOJ with a relevant extract from the real estate register.

“No ‘parish decision’ and no ‘relevant registration actions’ have ever taken place. The OCU is openly lying about some ‘parish decision’ and ‘relevant registration actions,’” the eparchy said in its comment.

They also noted that OCU representatives are threatening UOC believers and clergy with “ensuring access” for some unknown “community” to the shrine, which directly indicates preparations for a forced seizure of church property.

The Nativity of Christ Church was consecrated by Metropolitan Theodosiy in 2021 and has the status of a bishop’s metochion.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that in Cherkasy hospital, employees transferred the Church of the Apostle Luke to the OCU.

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