Rivne hierarch rejects media claims over soldier’s funeral

Rivne hierarch rejects media claims over soldier’s funeral

The Rivne Eparchy called on journalists to stop cynically manipulating the memory of fallen Ukrainian defenders.

Metropolitan Pimen of Rivne and Ostroh rejected accusations by a local outlet that the UOC community had shown disrespect toward the funeral cortege of a fallen Ukrainian serviceman. According to the ruling hierarch, when the procession passed the Resurrection Cathedral in Rivne, the faithful immediately switched off the outdoor broadcast of the service.

A report by the local website ChaRivne, headlined “No Respect: UOC Parishioners in Rivne Ignore Cortege with Fallen Hero,” contained inaccurate information about events outside the cathedral on August 14, 2026. The authors alleged without grounds that the faithful had shown indifference to the memory of the fallen defender.

The Rivne Eparchy said the cathedral community had known in advance that the funeral cortege would pass by. Those responsible had been instructed beforehand to turn off the sound system as the procession approached. Cathedral staff did so as soon as the cortege reached the church.

That day, on the feast of the Maccabean Martyrs, the clergy were celebrating a late Divine Liturgy. Only after the fallen soldier had been taken farther along the route did the blessing of water and baskets begin. Therefore, the claim that parishioners were “blessing baskets” beside the cortege of the fallen serviceman is untrue.

“We could not and cannot remain indifferent to the grief of the fallen soldier’s family,” Metropolitan Pimen said. “That is why everything was done to ensure that no church amplification could be heard while the funeral procession was passing the cathedral. The Liturgy continued without microphones. The blessing of the baskets took place only after the funeral procession had left the church grounds.”

Representatives of the eparchy stressed that the Church continually prays for Ukrainian soldiers, conducts funeral services for them, and prays for the repose of their souls. The eparchy called on journalists to stop exploiting the memory of fallen heroes to inflame religious hostility.

“Before publishing such reports, all that was needed was to call the Rivne Eparchy and obtain an official comment. The journalists did not do that,” the eparchy stated.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that an MP had supported a petition seeking to ban UOC broadcasts in Rivne.