With a sledgehammer and a grinder: OCU clerics seize a UOC church in Shpola
"Priests" of the OCU in Shpola. Photo: UOJ
On 2 September 2023, OCU representatives raided the St. Nicholas Church in the town of Shpola in the Cherkasy Eparchy of the UOC.
A UOC priest said that using hammers, sledgehammers and angle grinders, the unknown raiders broke the entrance gate and the service entrance to the altar.
"They kicked out of the refectory the man who lived there, kicked everyone out into the street, damaged church property, drove in with a car and won't let anyone in," the priest said.
He also said that on 2 September the liturgy was to be served in the church, but "unknown" persons calling themselves OCU "priests" did not allow it.
According to the UOC priest, representatives of Dumenko's structure forged documents on the ownership of the temple.
The supporters of Dumenko who seized the church also prevented the rector of the Shpola district, the rector and cleric of the St. Nicholas Church, Volodymyr Skrypnychuk, and Valeriy Haluzynsky from taking their personal belongings and priestly vestments.
As reported, OCU adherents seized a UOC temple in Vyshhorod, using a hammer and chisel.
Read also
Persecuted community in Stari Broskivtsi marks patronal feast in new church
The rector thanked the faithful for building a new church to replace the one that was seized.
Authorities hold “memorial” concert in church seized from UOC in Chernihiv
Believers expressed outrage over the transformation of an ancient shrine into a concert venue.
Kremenchuk authorities force OCU to remove fence around Trinity Cathedral
The mayor of Kremenchuk ordered the fence removed and the church’s “strangely divided” land plot reduced.
LGBT Catholics march in Rome Pride parade with rainbow cross
Participants in the gay pride march said the “rainbow cross” is a visible sign of the LGBT community’s presence within the Church.
Zelensky meets with OCU’s “Lavra abbot” at OP to discuss future plans
Lotysh thanked Zelensky for personally overseeing the restoration of the Dormition Cathedral.
Media report case of forcibly mobilized UOC deacon, father of many children
Deacon Andriy Virnyi of the Church of the Three Holy Hierarchs in Lutsk said he faced pressure, threats, and legal violations during an attempt to mobilize him.