"Political pilgrimage": Radicals and deputies go to UOC church in Ptichya

On April 13, a car with the "Svoboda" mark came to the church in Ptichya

On April 8, "Archbishop" Hilarion of the UOC KP came to serve near the Holy Assumption Church to "support" the community that had seized the temple of the UOC. According to eyewitnesses, all those who come to the church only when the next conflict is brewing have been summoned to Ptichya to meet the representative of the Kiev Patriarchate.

It is noteworthy that the gate of the fence, which the believers of the UOC can’t open even when it is necessary to bring the body of the deceased to the burial service, was widely open that day; and in front of the church, the "archbishop" of KP was welcomed by the chairman of the Dubno District Council Alexander Kozak.

On April 13, representatives of the VO "Svoboda" visited Ptichya: according to local residents, three men went into the church yard, took photographs, and talked to the police and supporters of the UOC KP. "Today, together with the deputies of the Rovno Regional Council Vladimir Valiavko and Alexander Gomon, visited the village of Ptichya to help the villagers in the struggle for a single Ukrainian local church," writes Dmitry Kazachek on his Facebook page.

On the same day, the Rovno branch of the political force "UKROP" published the post which says: "In the village of Ptichya of the Dubno district, believers were left without a church on the Easter eve. The court again arrested the only temple in the village – the Holy Assumption Church, because of a clash between supporters of the Kiev and Moscow Patriarchates. The Rovno regional organization "Ukrainian Union of Patriots – UKROP" expresses its support to the religious community of the village and calls for a peaceful resolution of the conflict."

After the information on the official lifting of the arrest from the Holy Assumption Church in the village of Ptichya of the Dubno district, Rivne region, appeared on the evening of April 2, supporters of the Kiev Patriarchate took over the temple by force. The church raiding took place with police inaction and with the help of ex-fighters of the battalion "Aidar" and "Azov". As a result, the Rovno City Court sealed the temple and repeatedly arrested it.

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