OCU Seizes Intercession Church of UOC’s Balta Eparchy in Myrony Village
A parish church in Ukraine’s Odesa region came under OCU control after a disputed “transfer” that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church says was carried out without the participation or consent of its faithful.
MYRONY, UKRAINE — A dispute has emerged over the status of the Intercession parish in the village of Myrony, in Ukraine’s Odesa region, following an announcement by supporters of the schismatic Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) that the parish had transferred from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) to OCU jurisdiction.
According to the OCU, a meeting held on December 13 resulted in a decision to change the parish’s affiliation and appoint a new acting rector. Representatives of the OCU’s Odesa Eparchy were reportedly present, after which the church came under OCU control.
The Balta Eparchy of the UOC disputed this account, stating that the canonical parish community was neither present at nor informed of the meeting. Diocesan officials said decisions were made without parishioner participation and rejected claims that the parish’s rector, Archpriest Feodor Zubriy, refused to pray for Ukrainian soldiers.
The UOC eparchy alleged that OCU representatives arrived with a preselected cleric and effectively seized the church. The Intercession Church remains under OCU control.
Previously, the UOJ reported on a loyal UOC parish that rejected attempts to transfer to the schismatic OCU.
