Bushcha: OCU followers fire away evil spirit at the "consecration" of water
Hunters at the "consecration" of water in Bushcha. Photo: Facebook
The water "consecration" on the day of the Holy Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Bushcha community of the OCU in the Zdolbuniv district, Rivne region, was accompanied by single shots from hunting rifles. The corresponding video with 15 hunters shooting at the same time, was posted on Facebook and Instagram by local activists.
It turns out that this spectacular tradition has been respected in Bushcha since ancient times. As local resident Nikolai Uzhvin wrote on his page, people believe that in this way they drive away evil spirits.
“This is an ancient custom, especially in forest villages. In such a way, evil spirits are driven away. You can find this in the works of Ukrainian ethnographers,” he said.
According to the stories of Bushcha residents, it was local hunters who were the main initiators of the seizure of the temple.
As reported earlier, the community of the UOC of the village of Bushcha built a new church instead of the one taken over by OCU supporters in March 2019 with the assistance of the head of the local district state administration.
Read also
OCU parishioners in Kosmach sue each other over December 25 service
An OCU parish in Ivano-Frankivsk Region held no services either on December 25 or on January 7.
Analyst likens Bankova’s case against UOC to Stalin-era repression
Bondarenko said the way the authorities justify pressure on the Church may amount to the rhetoric of the totalitarian era.
Christmas caroling and festive concerts held across UOC eparchies
During the January celebration of the Nativity of Christ, UOC communities across the country sing carols, hold concerts, and organize charitable initiatives.
Primate: God’s law is written in every human heart
During a sermon in Boryspil, His Beatitude reminded the faithful of the meaning of Christmas and the need to live according to God’s commandments.
Media: Transgender-identified inmates sexually assault women in US prisons
Female inmates, who have been interviewed extensively as part of the research on the impact of gender ideology in custodial settings, describe the facility as “a haven for sexual predators who pretend to be transgender.”
Guardian: Bible sales in Britain hit new highs in 2025
Specialists are noting growing interest in Christian texts amid social change and a rethinking of faith’s role in contemporary society.