Kruty believers disrupt provocation of UOC KP supporters and radicals
Hundreds of believers of the St. Michael’s community, outraged by the deception, gathered to prevent a provocation. Photo: Nezhin Eparchy
On June 1, 2019, in the village of Kruty of the Nezhin District, representatives of the Kiev Patriarchate and several people who do not attend divine services announced a meeting on behalf of St. Michael’s Community of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, reports the press service of the Nezhin Eparchy.
Hundreds of believers of St. Michael’s community, outraged by the deception, gathered to prevent a provocation.
As it turned out, one of the provocateurs had the documents prepared for transferring the religious community to the UOC KP. The UOC believers unanimously demanded an end to the encroachments on the religious peace in the village by the Kiev Patriarchate.
According to eyewitnesses, instead of explaining their actions, the schismatics insulted the community representatives. One of them, a member of the VO “Svoboda”, said that the believers are a “flock” and the locals are “not people”.
In the end, the provocateurs had to disperse with nothing.
The parishioners explain that the instigator of the provocation is a local resident of Kruty, who the villagers refused to elect as the head of the village. Still cherishing the hope to occupy the desired position, he tries to constantly provoke a conflict in the village, making enough of a nuisance of himself.
The second organizer of the incident, Sergei Chutchenko, a representative of the Kiev Patriarchate, has to look for a place for services in various adapted premises after his fellows kicked him out of the UOC KP church in Nezhin.
To put an end to the provocations, on the same day, believers of St. Michael’s parish gathered in their church to thank God, who keeps them in the true Church and the purity of the Orthodox faith, and hold an open meeting of the parish.
Those present at this meeting unanimously expressed their desire to remain under the jurisdiction of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church headed by its Primate, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine. The decision was documented in the protocol and notified to the authorities of the Chernigov region on the same day.
As reported earlier, this is already the second attempt to shatter the religious situation in the village. The first provocation took place in the spring of this year. Despite the fact that the provocateurs were backed by district authorities, it ended without any result.
Read also
In Pasika, Transcarpathia, priest defects to OCU while community remains in UOC
In the village of Paseka in Transcarpathia, believers discussed the future fate of their church.
In Sumy, Presentation Church of UOC damaged by shelling
In the Sumy Eparchy, the walls and fence of the Presentation Church were damaged as a result of shelling, but divine services continue.
Ukraine loses almost 98% of cases at European Court of Human Rights
According to the ECtHR’s 2025 report, nearly all complaints against Ukraine end with findings of human rights violations.
UOC Chancellor on Kyiv Council decision targeting UOC: Obvious lawlessness
Metropolitan Anthony said the document adopted by the Kyiv Regional Council violates the Constitution, interferes with freedom of religion, and exceeds the body’s authority.
In Finland, Constantinopolitan Church hierarch convicted of fraud
A Finnish court found the former archbishop of the Constantinople Patriarchate guilty of manipulating state subsidies and committing financial violations.
His Beatitude: Pure faith is the only path to soul salvation
On the Sunday of the Triumph of Orthodoxy, the Primate of the UOC urged the faithful not to tailor faith to human reasoning and passions, and reminded them of the significance of the Ecumenical Councils.