570 parishioners in Kelmentsi reaffirm their loyalty to UOC
The rector of the UOC church reported that another meeting was held on March 1, of which neither he, the local community, nor the residents of the town had been notified.
On March 2, 2025, 570 parishioners of the Church of the Pochaiv Icon of the Mother of God in the town of Kelmentsi held a religious community meeting, where they voted to remain faithful to Orthodox canons and to maintain unity with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church under His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry.
"We – the parish of the Church of the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God in Kelmentsi – have voted today at our meeting to remain in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church under the leadership of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv," the parishioners’ statement reads.
The parishioners expressed gratitude to everyone who participated in the meeting and confirmed their commitment to the canonical Church with their vote.
"Thank you to everyone who came to the meeting today and expressed their will by voting for us to remain in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church," the faithful emphasized.
The church’s rector, Father Oleh, reported that a separate meeting had been held the day before, on March 1, but neither he, the local parish, nor the residents of the village had been informed about it.
"No one knew about the March 1 meeting. Neither I, nor the church community, nor our fellow villagers were notified. Outsiders arrived with chaplains and pre-prepared lists. This is a crime – a theft. We do not need such a faith," the priest stated.
Earlier, UOJ reported that unknown individuals in Kelmentsi voted for the transfer of two UOC parishes to the OCU.
