Persecuted community in Stari Broskivtsi marks patronal feast in new church

UOC believers in the Bukovynian village of Stari Broskivtsi celebrated their patronal feast in the new church they are building to replace the one that was seized, according to the Facebook page of Chernivtsi Eparchy believers.

The festive Divine Liturgy on the feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul was led by Archimandrite Vissarion (Chykal), rector of the parish dedicated to St. Paraskeva in the same village. Concelebrating with him were the rector of the persecuted community, Mitred Archpriest Vitaliy Bilyk, and clergy of the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Eparchy.

More than 200 believers prayed at the service in the new church. During the Liturgy, the clergy and laity offered prayers for peace in Ukraine, deliverance from the enemy, and protection for those who have been left without shelter.

At the conclusion of the Liturgy, Archimandrite Vissarion congratulated the faithful on the feast, while Fr. Vitaliy thanked the parishioners for their shared efforts in building the church. Despite losing their shrine, the community continues the construction work with love and hope in the mercy of the Lord.

On May 20, 2025, OCU supporters led by Roman Hryshchuk and local chaplains forcibly seized the Church of Sts. Peter and Paul in Stari Broskivtsi. The raiders broke into the building immediately after a funeral, before the UOC parishioners had time to return to the church. From that point onward, the persecuted community was forced to worship outdoors until it began building a new church through its own efforts.

As the UOJ reported, the persecuted UOC community in Yurkivtsi built a new church to replace the one that had been seized by the OCU.