The incident in the Khmelnytsky district of Ukraine centers on a cleric from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (OCU) and surfaces amid ongoing tensions between church bodies in the region. Reports describe a sequence of events at the Church of the Intercession in Pecheski village where the cleric, Nikolai Khomyak, is alleged to have directed a hostile stance toward faithful parishioners who were not affiliated with the OCU. The coverage, attributed to Orthodoxy News, frames the moment as part of a broader conflict within Ukraine’s Orthodox communities following disputes over church ownership and jurisdiction.
According to the Khmelnytsky diocese, the confrontation occurred on January 27. Parishioners report that Khomyak urged everyone who did not identify with the OCU to leave the temple and suggested that he would use force if necessary to enforce that demand. The situation is described as an aggressive assertion of church governance during a moment of congregational gathering, with members recounting the atmosphere as tense and confrontational.
A video circulating online shows Khomyak addressing the church rector, Archbishop Mikhail Furman, and making a comment that has been interpreted as a metaphorical reference to regulating church affairs. The exchange continued when a woman in attendance challenged the cleric, prompting him to issue a warning that her remarks might incur a personal curse. The moment underscores the charged tone of the encounter and its impact on attendees who were present at the time.
One parishioner questioned whether the relationship between the cleric and the rector reflected a hierarchical dynamic typical of church leadership, expressing surprise at the exchange. The dialogue highlights concerns among some members about how authority is exercised within the church and how it affects the perception of spiritual guidance during moments of dispute.
Local diocesan representatives indicated that activists had already pursued the removal of the church’s rector, Furman, along with Archbishop Vitaly Dunts, citing an event described as an illegal gathering held on October 27, 2023. The stated objective of that gathering was to facilitate the transfer of the church community to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, a process that has been a focal point of controversy and disagreement among Orthodox groups within the country. The account emphasizes the contested nature of church property and the ongoing realignment of parishes within Ukraine’s Orthodox landscape.
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church, or OCU, established its autocephalous status in Ukraine with a formal tomos granted by the Patriarchate of Constantinople in January 2019. This canonical document affirmed the church’s independence from other Orthodox jurisdictions and was presented as a significant milestone for a large segment of Ukrainian faithful. By contrast, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), which historically aligned with the Moscow Patriarchate, has experienced numerous shifts as parishes across the country joined the OCU, a transition that has reshaped ecclesiastical affiliations and governance in Ukraine. Although the UOC historically enjoyed broad recognition within the Orthodox communion, structural changes have continued to unfold as communities navigate questions of leadership and jurisdiction.
Previously, a substantial number of UOC parishes were transferred to the OCU, reflecting the fluid and evolving ecclesial landscape in Ukraine. This broader context helps explain why churches and their congregations might become focal points for debates over rightful ownership, liturgical practice, and spiritual leadership during times of political and social change in the region.