OCU raiders cut locks and seize UOC temple in Susval

The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the village of Susval, Volyn region. Photo: UOJ

On February 14, 2020, around 9:30 p.m., a group of raiders, UOC activists, with pre-arranged tools, locks, an angle grinder and a generator, broke into the territory of the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the UOC in Volyn village Susval. The attackers have already opened the entrance to the temple and occupied the altar.

It is also reported that a group of men with signs of intoxication had gathered at the house of one of the UOC activists the day before. It was quiet near the temple 15-20 minutes before the raider attack.

The rector of the UOC community, priest Bohdan Hnatiuk, reported that the police were called to the scene but 20 minutes later they still didn’t arrive.

The parishioners of the UOC also gathered near the temple.

We recall that the UOC community in Susval village was illegally re-registered to the new church structure on March 26, 2019. The case is being considered in court.

On January 31, 2020, the UOC church in Susval was sealed by representatives of Volodymyr-Volynsky police department. Also, law enforcement officials said that any intrusion into the church before the court decision would be considered as arbitrary behaviour.

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