Chernivtsi bishop consecrates new altar for persecuted Kerstentsi community

Metropolitan Meletiy of Chernivtsi and Bukovyna consecrated the altar of the newly built Transfiguration Church of the UOC in the village of Kerstentsi on August 19, 2026. The community built this church to replace the old shrine, which had previously been seized by supporters of the OCU, report believers of the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Eparchy of the UOC on Facebook.

Metropolitan Meletiy celebrated the festive Divine Liturgy after the rite of altar consecration. Secretary of the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Eparchy Dimitry Shcherban, Dean of the Khotyn District Anatoly Mandriuk, and parish rector Volodymyr Timofeev concelebrated with the archpastor.

Numerous parishioners attended the new church. The people glorified the Lord Jesus Christ and offered prayers for peace in Ukraine, the country's defenders, families, and those who had lost their homes.

Following the Liturgy, the clergy performed the blessing of the fruits of the new harvest and held a procession around the church. The priests read the Holy Gospel and sprinkled the faithful with holy water.

Metropolitan Meletiy supported the parishioners with words of spiritual guidance. Parish rector Volodymyr Timofeev thanked the archpastor for the consecration of the altar, and the clergy and faithful for their conciliar prayer on this festive day.

Let us recall that on September 29, 2025, supporters of the OCU seized the former Transfiguration Church of the UOC community in Kerstentsi. OCU activists carried out a forcible seizure with the support of police and Roman Hryshchuk. The UOC faithful lost the building but preserved their faith and decided to build a new church on an empty plot. Through prayers, persistent labor, and the help of parishioners, the people built a new shrine.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that pilgrims from Zakarpattia supported the persecuted UOC community in Kerstentsi.