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# OCU Honors Cleric Linked to Church Seizures
- URL: https://uoj.news/news/ocu-honors-cleric-linked-to-church-seizures/
- Published: 2026-07-07T12:15:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-25T16:12:37.000Z
- Description: The presentation of a church award to Roman Hryshchuk sparked criticism from commenters who linked the honor to his alleged role in disputed church seizures.
- Author: Tobias Straney
- Tags: #Category: News, Epiphany Dumenko, Ukraine Schism, UOC, OCU, Church seizures

**CHERNIVTSI, UKRAINE —** As reported by [UOJ-Ukraine](https://spzh.eu/en/news/94226-dumenko-awarded-a-cleric-who-conducted-fake-transitions-and-church-seizures?fbclid=IwdGRleAS4oatwZG9mA2ZkaWQWUKAgt4L4er4YJ223ZoAleuPVjoR%5FOmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR5V5SBxi-bYW4g47uybz8YU2rdoSBqacWVcH2Y8C0xz6c%5FNuG%5FZCePdMq1qKw%5Faem%5F4O7qPPbQpu44zu%5FqEcngag), during a visit to Chernivtsi, Epiphany Dumenko presented a gold cross to Roman Hryshchuk, a cleric of the state-backed Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) who has been publicly associated with organizing disputed parish transitions and participating in the seizures of churches belonging to the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC).

Hryshchuk has been identified as one of the participants in the storming of a UOC church in the village of Verkhni Stanivtsi. According to reports, he wore a hooded sweatshirt during the incident in an apparent effort to avoid recognition, although parishioners later said they identified him. Following news of the award, commenters on social media speculated that the decoration was connected to his role in the church seizures.

[![](https://uoj.news/content/images/2026/01/ocu-honors-cleric-linked-to-church-seizures-image-794bb12f25a6.png)On this topicOCU Cleric on Forced Church Seizures from UOC: At This Pace, We Need Another 45 Years](https://uoj.news/news/86129-ocu-cleric-on-forced-church-seizures-from-uoc-at-this-pace-we-need-another-45-years/)

The presentation of the award prompted criticism from some members of the Orthodox community, who questioned the decision to honor a cleric linked by opponents to conflicts surrounding church seizures. Commentator Veronika Kozhokar, in response to the original [First Cossack Telegram post](https://t.me/kozakTv1/65539), suggested that Dumenko had given Hryshchuk "a new angle grinder and a crowbar." Supporters of the OCU, however, have continued to recognize clergy involved in the establishment and expansion of OCU communities throughout Ukraine.

Previously, the [UOJ reported](https://uoj.news/news/85731-ocu-cleric-criticizes-traditional-iconographic-depictions-of-christ/) that OCU cleric criticized traditional iconographic depictions of Christ.