UOC cleric: New churches built almost everywhere where there were seizures

Archpriest Victor Zemlianoy. Photo: facebook.com/MitropolitAntoniy

Almost everywhere where schismatics seized churches of the UOC, new ones have already been built, said Archpriest Viktor Zemlianoy, head of the Department for Interfaith Settlement of the Rivne Eparchy of the UOC, during the prayer standing in Kiev on August 21, 2021. A fragment of the speech was published by the "1Kozak" channel.

The clergyman noted that nothing will force the Phanar head to repent for the split committed, but the bitter tears of thousands of people who are crying all over Ukraine today at the seized churches “will not pass in vain because God is the protector of all these people”.

“Where bitter tears are being shed today – we have tears of joy at those churches in the Rivne Eparchy, Polessye, nearby in Volyn, in Ternopil, thank God. Thanks to our kind people, kind hearts, we have already rebuilt almost all the churches where our shrines were seized.

Our communities have not disintegrated, the priests have not betrayed, the believers remain faithful to Christ, our Mother Church, and our Primate,” Archpriest Viktor Zemlianoy emphasized.

Also, the UOJ cleric of the Rivne Eparchy said that the Church Slavonic language is the heritage and wealth of the Ukrainian people.

Read also

Fr. Gabriel Bunge: From Benedictine Monk to Orthodox Hermit

Steeped in the writings of Evagrius Ponticus, Swiss Benedictine Gabriel Bunge converted to Russian Orthodoxy in 2010 and became Schiarchimandrite Gabriel, guiding souls through prayer and patristic wisdom from his Alpine skete.

Abp. Elpidophoros Honored at Record-Breaking Gala

Organizers hailed the milestone as a testament to unity, with a 25% increase over last year's giving.

Greek Abbot: LGBT Ideology Signals Antichrist's Approach

Fr. Dositheos told the UOJ that imposing LGBT ideology through education is a "war against God," signals the Antichrist's approach, and surpasses Sodom's depravity, urging repentance and a return to Orthodox roots.

Abp. Elpidophoros "Excited" about Orthodox-Miaphysite Dialogue

At Brookline conference, Archbishop Elpidophoros claimed that Orthodox and Miaphysites simply express the same beliefs in different ways.

Catholic Bishops Oppose Trump's Threat to Invade Nigeria

Abp. Ignatius Kaigama rejects U.S. President Trump's threat of airstrikes to protect Nigerian Christians, warning it would harm Christian-Muslim coexistence and urging diplomatic support, funding disruptions, and security training instead.

UOC-KP Dioceses Reject Filaret’s 'Coerced' OCU Meeting, Defends Independence

UOC-KP dioceses in Odesa-Balta and Sumy denounce Patriarch Filaret's November 5, 2025, meeting with OCU head Epifaniy Dumenko as coerced through abduction and psychotropic influence, vowing to defend the independent Kyiv Patriarchate and its primate's testament against dissolution attempts.