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# UOC faithful break through to cathedral grounds in Chernivtsi
- URL: https://uoj.news/news/84550-uoc-faithful-break-through-to-cathedral-grounds-in-chernivtsi/
- Published: 2025-06-17T09:30:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-23T17:48:41.000Z
- Description: Police side with the raiders, beating believers with batons and using tear gas.
- Author: UOJ-America Editorial Staff
- Tags: #Category: News, Church and State, Chernivtsi Eparchy, Persecution of the Church, Ukrainian Orthodox Church, UOC, Church seizures

**CHERNIVTSI —** On June 17, 2025, after hours of confrontation, an estimate 5,000 faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church broke through to the grounds of the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Chernivtsi, which had earlier been seized by OCU radicals.

According to reports from the scene, the laity literally broke through the barricades in order to reach their sacred site. Despite resistance from police attempting to hold back the crowd, law enforcement was unable to stop them.

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Video footage shows believers pushing out the militants who had blocked the church and reclaiming control of the territory for the UOC.

However, police continue to act on the side of the raiders, assaulting believers with batons and using tear gas against them.

The [UOJ previously reported](https://uoj.news/news/84549-masked-attackers-seize-uoc-cathedral-assault-clergy-in-chernivtsi/) that the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Chernivtsi was under attack by OCU supporters.