UOC Bishop Calls for Supervised Parish Meeting to Resolve Church Dispute

Metropolitan Meletiy. Photo: Chernivtsi Eparchy/Facebook

CHERNIVTSI — Metropolitan Meletiy of Chernivtsi and Bukovyna has proposed convening a new meeting of the Orthodox cathedral community, this time with the participation of government representatives to ensure transparency and resolve ongoing tensions.

In a recent address to the faithful, the UOC bishop emphasized the need for strict verification of participants, stating they must determine “who is truly a parishioner and who is not.” He clarified that while non-members may attend the meeting, only registered parishioners should be allowed to vote.

Metropolitan Meletiy argued that the presence of state authorities could help serve as neutral arbiters and prevent manipulation, following previous meetings that reportedly led to conflict. He affirmed his commitment to dialogue and peaceful resolution, adding, “Whether we will be heard, time will tell.”

Earlier, UOJ's Ukrainian branch (SPZH) reported that at the cathedral community meeting, about 4,500 parishioners voted for faithfulness to the UOC.

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