The Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Eparchy reps believe that the transformation of the funeral into a political rally by the representatives of the OCU is the height of cynicism.

The Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Eparchy commented on the scandal provoked by representatives of the OCU at the funeral of ATO soldier Yaroslav Karliychuk.

According to the press service of the eparchy, on April 16, the secretary of the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Archimandrite Nikita, together with 15 priests “with respect and joint prayer paid last respects to the ATO soldier Yaroslav Karliychuk killed in the East.”

The diocese also reported that some media outlets called the OCU chaplain’s speech at the deceased’s grave “hard-hitting” and said it “forced Orthodox priests to flee the funeral”.

However, according to the press service of the eparchy, “the photos are evidence that a service was held for the repose of the recently deceased, the body of Yaroslav was taken to the parent home, and the funeral was performed in the cemetery. We do not observe frightened faces and the need to run somewhere in a panic.”

The eparchy’s press service stated that “the chaplains of the OCU appeared at the funeral of God’s servant Yaroslav without the invitation of the family, as laypeople, and twice tried to turn the funeral into a political show.”

“We understand that the “clergy” of the OCU (a religious organization in the schism) are very irritated and they are literally sick of the fact that the parents of ATO soldiers do not want to bury their children in the schism and do not want to turn the funeral, so important and a tragic event for every family, into a political rally,” and “PR on the death of loved ones is the height of cynicism,” the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Eparchy stressed.