OCU activists seize temple in Stary Zagorov: He sang for repose of Tomos

Proponents of the OCU expel the priest of the canonical Church from the temple

The interfaith conflict in Stary Zagorov in Volyn, which escalated last week, ended in the cutting of locks and the seizure of the temple of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

“Supporters of the Moscow Patriarchate do not allow adherents of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine to the church. To enter the temple, people had to use force, (...) After lengthy disputes, representatives of the pro-Ukrainian majority still defended the church,” 5 TV channel journalists report, wondering why the priest spoke out against the decision of “the majority of residents” and locked the church.

“It was necessary to cut locks, on legal grounds,” said Vitaly Politylo, one of the local fighters for the OCU. “The priests should bring the community together, they are spiritual mentors. And that one sang for the repose of the Tomos. This is a great sin.”

The "believer" Yulia Bots stressed that they need a church where they will not pray "in an incomprehensible language": "We are Ukrainians, we live in the Ukrainian land, and how we can worship Kirill, how we can serve in an incomprehensible language if we want to hear our Ukrainian language. We teach children patriotism.”

It is noted that a new abbot Fr. Vasily, a “priest” of the OCU, has already been sent to the church. He is going to perform his “service” this Saturday, April 20.

“The Lord teaches us to love everyone, do you understand?” said the priest. “All the Orthodox, all people. Unfortunately, they (representatives of the UOC – Ed.) have such a position – for some reason, they are aggressive towards us, you yourself could see. We welcome everyone to the church! And even those who are shouting there, especially them. The temple will always be open.”

In turn, the priest of the UOC, the dean of the Lokhachi Deanery, Archpriest Anatoly Sobutsky, commented on the situation: “How is it done in the civilized world? Register, take yourself some object and get settled. No seizure.”

As the UOJ reported, on the night of April 11, OCU supporters made the first attempt to seize the temple of the canonical Church in the village of Stary Zagorov.

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