The day that changed Chernivtsi and Ukraine
History will remember the day when the people of Chernivtsi said a firm “no” to lawlessness and rose to defend their faith.
More than two weeks have passed since the violence in Chernivtsi, when OCU militants beat parishioners of the UOC, along with several priests, and seized the UOC’s Holy Spirit Cathedral for several hours. Plenty of time for the authorities to report on arrests of the attackers and explain what is being done to prevent such things from happening again. But nothing of the sort has happened. Why? Because in this operation to seize the cathedral, the authorities worked hand in glove with Dumenko’s militants. Orthodox believers need to understand the nature of this alliance in order to resist it. Praemonitus – praemunitus. Forewarned is forearmed.
In this video, we explain in detail the scenario the OCU and the authorities used to try to seize the Holy Spirit Cathedral. Evil is rarely creative or original. The same scheme will almost certainly be tried again – at this cathedral and at others. So watch and draw your own conclusions.
Early morning calm turns to battle
The early morning at Holy Spirit Cathedral was as usual. The faithful gathered for the Divine Liturgy; the atmosphere was one of prayer and quiet. No one imagined that in just a few hours their sanctuary would become a battleground between good and evil.
A seizure under police cover
Around 14:30, someone brought an “invalid” in a wheelchair to the church. But what happened next shocked everyone present: the man suddenly stood up from the wheelchair and, along with those who came with him, began beating parishioners and priests right near the altar.
At the same time, a bus full of militants arrived at the church, followed minutes later by another. A crowd of masked young men stormed the grounds, carrying out what can only be described as a well-rehearsed method of lawlessness.
The standard OCU method is simple and cynical: militants with angle grinders and crowbars come to take over a church. It’s been seen in hundreds of cases across Ukraine. This time it was the same scheme, but with one important twist – the militants operated under the obvious protection of the police.
Video footage clearly shows the city’s deputy police chief, Sviatoslav Kyshlar, who knew exactly what was happening, even though he later claimed in interviews he didn’t know who the masked men were. It’s obvious this was all coordinated in advance with the city leadership and with OCU “bishop” Bodoriak personally.
A coordinated special operation
As soon as the militants entered the church, Bodoriak posted on social media: “A historic event. We’re in the cathedral. Come immediately.” The timestamp on the message was 14:54 – five to ten minutes before the operation began. Notably, he wrote “we,” directly admitting his involvement.
Yet on June 20, Bodoryak claimed the OCU had no connection to the militants. That was a blatant lie: the attackers didn’t arrive alone. They were accompanied by Bodoriak’s diocesan secretary, OCU “priest” Ivan Chokaliuk, and Vasyl Kapriyan, a cleric of the OCU cathedral in Chernivtsi. Kapriyan was the one who got off the bus first, opened the back doors, and let the militants out.
Chokaliuk directed the whole special operation against the Church. He watched as Orthodox priests were savagely beaten – left bloody, unconscious. UOC priest Roman Forost, father of eight, ended up in intensive care with broken ribs, a broken nose, and internal injuries. Another UOC priest, Vitaliy Honchariuk, was also hospitalized.
Meanwhile, Ivan Chokaliuk entered the church, changed into a cassock, and, together with Vasyl Kapriyan, prepared for the “Ukrainian-language prayer” that Bodoryak had announced. Even the city’s mayor, Roman Klychuk, wrote about this “prayer” on social media, though he later deleted his post.
Hypocrisy in action
Particularly bitter are the words Bodoryak himself wrote shortly before this: “Christ did not tolerate hypocrisy, insincerity, double standards. He often called the hypocritical Pharisees ‘whitewashed tombs.’ It is imitation of Christ that makes us Christians.”
Apparently, this is Bodoriak’s idea of “imitating Christ” – by beating defenseless people in God’s house.
Police on the side of the raiders
The police formed a shield – but not to protect the faithful. They protected the raiders. Officers used violence against people who were praying, spraying tear gas into their faces. All entrances to the city were blocked to prevent people from reaching the church. It was a true blockade of the city against its own citizens.
Awakening of the people
But the people did not remain indifferent. Social media spread the alarm faster than the police could respond. Within an hour, a thousand people had gathered near the church. Within two hours, several thousand. They blocked the street, demanding justice.
Metropolitan Meletiy was struck by an OCU militant, and police sprayed gas in his face. He lost his bearings but did not abandon his flock. He issued an SOS appeal live: “Police are protecting the militants.” The whole world saw it.
The OCU leadership stayed silent. The violence was tacitly approved – this is their strategy. Their silence was complicity.
A breakthrough
By evening, people’s patience snapped. Thousands of believers broke down the fence. The police began to retreat. The security forces realized they were powerless against the people. Tear gas was sprayed inside the church by the raiders, while outside the police did the same. People were choking – but they did not back down.
The police agreed to negotiations. The faithful opened a “corridor” for the militants, who left the church to cries of “Shame!” Along with them went the OCU “priests,” including Ivan Chokalyuk.
Buses took the militants away – only to let them go after a kilometer. By that evening, they were partying in the restaurant of the city’s mayor, Roman Klychuk. This is what justice looks like in Ukraine.
Victory of Good
The cathedral was freed. Thousands prayed together with their bishop. Cries of “Christ is Risen!” rang out with joy. It was truly a victory of good over evil.
“The entire Orthodox world is watching. The OCU has shown its true face. Thank you for your faith,” the metropolitan told the crowd. He also declared that “Bartholomew caused this disaster.”
Math against lies
The statistics speak for themselves: the UOC in Chernivtsi has at least 20,000 parishioners; the OCU has around a thousand. Everywhere the OCU seizes a church, it is left empty – no prayer, no people, no Liturgy. Is this what they call “prayer in Ukrainian”?
The authorities knew this ratio. The question arises: was this a planned provocation? Do the authorities want a religious conflict as the trigger for something bigger?
A lesson for everyone
The events in Chernivtsi were a lesson for all Ukraine. True strength lies not in clubs, but in faith in God and in truth. You cannot preach the Gospel while beating people – this is something even ordinary OCU believers understand.
Chernivtsi set an example for the entire country: holy places can be defended – peacefully but firmly. True power lies in unity, and on June 17 the people of Bukovyna proved it. History will remember the day when the people said a resolute “no” to lawlessness and stood up to defend their faith.
