UOC spokesperson: Believers from Galicia move to Kyiv for worship

The demolition of the last church of the UOC in Lviv. Photo: Kozitsky's Telegram channel

The deputy head of the UOC DECR, Archpriest Mykola Danylevych said on his Telegram channel that because of the destruction of the western eparchies by the authorities, parishioners have to travel to European countries to receive communion, while some move to other regions of Ukraine.

The priest said that believers of the Chernivtsi Eparchy in case of the UOC ban are ready to travel to European countries where dozens of parishes of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church already operate.

At the same time, according to Fr. Mykola, there are already cases when believers have to travel to Europe for divine services.

"From Ivano-Frankivsk, one woman travelled to one of our parishes in Belgium, where she was able to receive communion for the first time in a long while. In Ivano-Frankivsk, all our churches have been closed. People pray at home. Some people have to go to Europe to feel the true freedom of religion and to be able to meet their religious needs," the priest wrote.

According to him, such cases "indirectly testify to the correctness of the decisions of the Council a year ago to open parishes of the UOC in the diaspora. True, the main purpose was different: communities are opened for those living there. But already another need arises. Unfortunately."

The priest writes that there are cases of believers moving from Galicia to Kyiv for religious reasons: "There are no UOC churches anymore and there is nowhere to go and nowhere to receive communion."

"We hope, however, that the situation will improve and our faithful in Galicia will be able to pray and lead their religious life freely," concludes the deputy head of the UOC DECR.

As reported, Lviv authorities demolished the last church of the UOC.

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