Raiders seize UOC church in Checheliivka village

DECR Communication Service, 24/12/2025

On 23^rd December 2025, a group of the OCU raiders seized the Holy Intercession Church of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Checheliivka village, Kirovohrad region, Ukraine, reports the Union of Orthodox Journalists citing Dozor Telegram channel.

According to Dozor channel, the OCU activists had announced in advance their intention to enter the church despite it being sealed pending a court ruling. It was sealed three years ago following an attempted reregistration of the church as OCU-affiliated.

The parishioners were praying by the walls of their sealed church. “As the OCU’s ‘keys to church doors’ – meaning angle grinders and crow-bars – started working, a question arose: if the church is being opened today, and for over three years we could not pray inside, can we enter it now and at least venerate our shrines? But we were resolutely refused,” said Archpriest Dmytro Horodetsky, dean of the Petrove district.

The raiders cut the locks off and the police, present in the territory of the church, made a corridor for them.

OCU cleric Mark Levkiv announced the so-called “inventory” of the property to be carried out. To make sure that no falsification took place during the “inventory,” members of the canonical Church’s parish also wanted to come inside. However, one of the activists and an OCU cleric pushed Father Dmytro Horodetsky out.

“For the first time in my life I felt how strong the demonic power is, possessing people who seem to be thin and short in height. They grabbed my hair and almost lifted me off the ground,” Father Dmytro said.

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Raiders seize UOC church in Checheliivka village

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons