In Sumy provocateurs attempt to disrupt the service of UOC

Metropolitan Eulogy of Sumy and Akhtyrka

The provocateurs were located a few meters from the place of the worship performed in Pokrovskaya Square, turning up the loudspeakers through which the music was broadcast, reports “Pravoslavnaya Sumschina” (“The Orthodox Sumy region”).

On the feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos, more than two thousand Orthodox citizens of Sumy, who gathered for the worship, were forced to tolerate this “concert”. Law enforcers did not react to the actions of provocateurs.

Metropolitan Eulogy of Sumy and Akhtyrka noted that this provocation, like last year’s, became possible only with the tacit consent and inaction of the authorities. The archpastor expressed regret in this regard and stressed that the sin committed at outraging the Church of Christ, as well as its consequences, fully falls on the governor of the Sumy region and the mayor of the regional centre, who did not do anything so that Orthodox Sumy believers could have a possibility to freely honour the patronal feast of the Holy Protection Church, destroyed in the years of godless persecution.

As the UOJ reported, last year provocateurs also tried to disrupt the UOC worship service on the feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos in Sumy, broadcasting loud music. We recall that in 2017, for the first time, the executive committee of the Sumy city council did not allow Archbishop Eulogy of Sumy and Akhtyrka hold a traditional service in Pokrovskaya Square and a religious procession on October 14.

Read also

Met. Varsonofiy сelebrates Liturgy at persecuted UOC parish in Stryzhavka

A UOC hierarch officiated the Nativity service and offered prayers for peace in Ukraine.

Seized Dormition Cathedral in Volodymyr transferred from UOC to OCU control

Huz stated that after being handed to the OCU, the Dormition Cathedral in Volodymyr will be “Ukrainian and alive”.

In Brussels, Cardinal Parolin urges Europe to remember its Christian roots

The Vatican Secretary of State spoke at the Cathedral of Saints Michael and Gudula on the occasion of its eight-hundredth anniversary and recalled Europe’s spiritual mission.

388 mln Christians face persecution and discrimination over faith – report

The organization Portes Ouvertes has published research findings concluding that pressure on believers worldwide has intensified.

Archbishop of Albania: Orthodoxy is a key pillar of Albania’s European path

During a visit to Brussels, the Primate of the Albanian Orthodox Church underscored the importance of Orthodoxy for the country’s integration into the EU and for maintaining interreligious balance in society.

His Beatitude leads divine service at Lavra on Circumcision of the Lord feast

During the festive service at the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, special prayers were offered for peace on the Ukrainian land and for God’s blessing upon the new year.