Borodianka parishioners deny accusations against their rector

Parishioners of the temple in Borodianka. Photo: a screenshot of video t.me/dozor_kozak1

Parishioners of St Michael’s Church in Borodianka recorded a video message in which they denied all accusations against the rector of the temple, Archpriest Victor Talko, reports the Telegram channel DOZOR on "Kozak 1".

A Borodianka parishioner said that during the war, when all the authorities fled, only Father Victor stayed and helped the locals, including helping to bury her dead relatives.

"On 26 February 2022, when all my kin died, the first person who came to help me was Father Victor Talko. He was the first to give coffins to put all my relatives, and to this day he has been helping, praying for the repose of their souls. I want to bow at his feet that he did not run away from us, that in the most difficult times, he was with his flock, and that he was a protector and prayer leader for people. I never saw another bishop in the town. People who went to Belarus, all returned; who are here now, who went abroad, everyone is happy, and no one was offended. Olga Pavlovna Ionova stayed there in a nursing home because her home here was destroyed, she is fine there. I don't know what I can say, only bow low and say thank you and thank God that He gave us such a father. No one took money from me for the coffins he brought me," said a parishioner.

Another parishioner noted that all slanderers who say untruths about Father Victor will have to answer to God.

"It is very hard to accept that they slander our Father Victor, all the authorities fled when the war broke out, Fr Victor was left alone. Everyone turned to him, both believers and non-believers, he fed everyone here, protected them, and buried the dead people. They slander that there was supposedly a torture chamber in the basement of our temple. There is no basement in our church. It is just terrifying to read all this falsehood: a normal person cannot take it all. One should not slander a man who saved people in Borodianka, there are many who can confirm this. He helped with all his might. Slander cannot be forgiven. They will continue to slander our father and everyone else. But the Lord sees everything, and they will have to answer for it," added the second parishioner.

As reported, the priest was charged with a criminal case under the article "collaboration activities", he faces up to 5 years in prison.

The SBU said that the rector of the UOC church in the village of Borodianka, Archpriest Viktor Talko is being checked over his possible assistance in the forced removal to Belarus of almost 100 residents of the Kyiv region during the temporary occupation of the region.

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