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# UOC-USA Bishops Ridiculed Over Demolition of Cultural Center
- URL: https://uoj.news/news/85319-uoc-usa-bishops-ridiculed-over-demolition-of-cultural-center/
- Published: 2025-10-03T04:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-25T16:09:49.000Z
- Description: UOC-USA leaders, including Met. Antony (Scherba) and Abp. Daniel (Zelinsky), left abruptly, avoiding community dialogue and prompting chants of "Shame!"
- Author: News
- Tags: #Category: News, UOC-USA

**SOMERSET, NJ —** The Ukrainian Cultural Center in Somerset, New Jersey, a key symbol of Ukrainian heritage in the U.S., faces potential sale and demolition. Built with diaspora community funds, the center sits on land valued at $20–$70 million and is owned by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, a jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. (The UOC-USA is not in any way related to the UOC in Ukraine.)

On September 18, 2025, a Franklin Township zoning hearing drew hundreds of Ukrainians whose questions stalled proceedings, postponing the session to November 6 at 7:00 PM in a larger venue. UOC-USA leaders, including Met. Antony (Scherba) and Abp. Daniel (Zelinsky), left abruptly, avoiding community dialogue and prompting chants of "Shame!"

According to the *Franklin Reporter & Advocate*, a local newspaper, the meeting ["ended in chaos"](https://franklinreporter.com/zoning-board-hearing-on-ukrainian-cultural-center-ends-in-chaos/?fbclid=IwY2xjawNLXxhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHlca4rXu73EtxapV1vc1siOt4ysoC6K0dbNGwQDD4mQ8FUAg9ypJyZ3Oe2CI%5Faem%5FMpiWEQq3XS3vYTS67MqlTA).

The church cites insufficient resources and low engagement to justify a potential sale, but activists counter that the center thrives, hosting a Ukrainian school, community organizations, and dedicated volunteers ready to provide support. A petition to save the center has over 2,600 signatures, with video campaigns reaching 300,000 views. In 2019, then-Bishop Zelinsky predicted swift recognition of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, a claim that fell short, reflecting ongoing tensions within the community.

In August, the UOJ [reported](https://uoj.news/news/85042-abp-alexei-makes-statement-on-putin-meeting-responds-to-criticisms/) that Met. Anthony and Abp. Daniel published an open letter condemning Abp. Alexei of Alaska for his meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin.

Met. Daniel is a longtime supporter of the schismatic Orthodox Church in Ukraine. In January 2019, he [predicted](https://spzh.eu/en/news/59113-pomestnyje-cerkvi-priznajut-pcu-cherez-mesyac--ekzarkh-fanara) that most (if not all) local Orthodox churches would recognize the OCU "in a matter of months."