OCU Supporters’ Visit to Pochayiv Lavra Sparks Criticism

POCHAYIV, UKRAINE — A group associated with the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) recently visited the grounds of the Pochayiv Lavra and publicly referred to the renowned monastery as belonging to them, according to reports circulated by supporters of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC).

Among those identified in photographs from the visit was Mykola Hergelyuk, a figure who has been involved in a number of disputes surrounding parish transfers and church property issues in Ukraine. Critics accuse Hergelyuk of playing a leading role in efforts to transfer churches from the UOC to the OCU, particularly in the Chernivtsi region and other parts of Bukovina.

Supporters of the UOC allege that Hergelyuk previously worked as a state registrar and facilitated controversial re-registrations of religious communities. They further claim that he participated in disputes involving churches in Verkhni Stanivtsi, Malyatintsi, Kobolchyna, Chernivtsi, and other localities. Those allegations have made him a controversial figure in the ongoing conflict between the two Orthodox jurisdictions.

The appearance of the group at the Pochayiv Lavra drew criticism from UOC supporters, who viewed the visit and the claim of ownership as another example of attempts to assert control over religious sites historically associated with their Church. The Lavra remains one of the most significant Orthodox monasteries in Ukraine and continues to be a focal point in broader ecclesiastical disputes.

Previously, the UOJ reported that Ukrainian diplomats rejected Patr. Theophilos as a possible peace mediator.