In Vyshhorod and Kyiv, believers praying at their seized churches

The Liturgy of the Boris and Gleb community of the UOC in Vyshhorod. Photo: UOJ

In Vyshhorod near Kyiv and in Bortnychi (Darnitsky district of Kyiv), UOC communities are forced to hold open-air liturgies near their seized churches. The OCU raiders do not let them inside, reports a UOJ correspondent.

On 8 September 2023, dozens of believers of the Boris and Gleb community of the UOC in Vyshhorod had to gather for the liturgy near the gate of their own church on the Day of the Celebration of the Vyshhorod icon of the Mother of God. The OCU raiders did not let the faithful into the temple even to venerate the icons. At the same time, no more than 10 people stood at the "worship service" of the OCU inside the Sts. Boris and Gleb Church of the UOC.

Since the seizure of its church on 5 September, the UOC Intercession community in Bortnychi in the Kyiv suburbs have been gathering for daily services on the street. The rector Archpriest Alexiy Hodun welcomes everyone to support the community.

As reported, on 5 September 2023, the cleric of the OCU Vitaliy Matiyashchuk, together with unknown persons (including those in military uniform), cut the locks and entered the UOC Church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Mother of God in the Bortnychi microdistrict of Kyiv. Since then, the community is not allowed in its temple.

Earlier, in Vyshhorod, OCU and UGCC chaplains seized the Sts Boris and Gleb Church.

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