"A great day for the town": in Brody, authorities close UOC church

The authorities have closed St Volodymyr’s Church (UOC) in Brody. Photo: a screenshot of the YouTube Brody TV channel

On 24 April 2023, authorities in Brody, Lviv region, announced the closure of St Volodymyr’s Church (UOC), the only one in the city. The temple was built on private land in 2008. Nevertheless, the authorities felt they had the right to close it and stop church services. A video of the authorities' statement is posted on the YouTube Brody TV channel.

"Well, a great day has come for the Brody district, for Brody. Today we have implemented the decisions of the district council, and the city council, and sealed the church for the complete streamlining of documents regarding the transition of this church within the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (OCU – Ed.)," said Orest Kavetskyi, head of the Zolochiv District Council.

Brody Mayor Anatoliy Beley assured that the rector of the church agreed with the authorities' decision to close the church and even signed that he was familiar with the decision. "Today the church of the Moscow Patriarchate has stopped its work. Services will no longer take place," Beley said.

"Glory to Ukraine - glory to the heroes!" the two officials concluded.

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