Authorities cut off electricity to Kremenets Convent nuns

Employees of Ternopiloblenergo disconnected the Kremenets Monastery from the electricity supply. Photo: UOJ

On September 18, 2023, the authorities turned off the electricity in the Kremenets Epiphany Convent of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the UOJ was told the news. Several employees of Ternopiloblenergo arrived and disconnected the nunnery.

80 nuns live and work in the shrine. During Soviet rule, the convent complex, consisting of the Epiphany Cathedral, cells, and bell tower, was confiscated, and the Convent was closed. After the independence of Ukraine, the nuns began to revive it. The state reserved the ownership right to the complex of the Epiphany Convent buildings and allowed the nuns to use this property free of charge.

Over the past 32 years, the sisters of the nunnery have repaired and maintained state property in proper technical condition at their own expense. Now the state is trying to evict the nuns from their abode. For this purpose, it was disconnected from the electricity supply by Kremenets RES PJSC "Ternopoliblenergo".

On August 31, 2023, Volodymyr Tabachuk, the head of the Kremenets Regional Power Plant PJSC Ternopoliblenergo, sent a warning to the convent about the disconnection of the power supply. In a reply letter, Abbess Dimitria reminded Tabachuk about Cabinet Resolution 206 dated March 5, 2022, according to which it is forbidden to turn off the power to the population until the end of martial law.

"Disconnecting the cells from the electricity supply in the autumn-winter period has all the signs of torture. I ask you to refrain from illegal actions to disconnect the cells from the power supply," the Abbess wrote.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the Kremenets Convent of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church reported the threat of closure.

Read also

Priests and laity of Rivne Eparchy donate blood for children with cancer

In Rivne, the UOC clergy and laity have donated blood for children undergoing treatment for cancer.

Kyiv seminary students meet with People’s Artist Larisa Kadochnikova

Students of Kyiv’s theological schools spoke with the legend of Ukrainian cinema, who shared her memories of filming "Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors".

Bancheny Monastery reports provocation

The UOC monastery in Bancheny has reported a provocation by unidentified individuals.

Romanian Church to hold joint prayer for peace in Ukraine

On the fourth anniversary of the beginning of the war in Ukraine, special prayers for an end to the hostility will be offered in all churches of the Romanian Patriarchate, both in the country and abroad.

Armenian bishops call on authorities to stop Church persecution

At a meeting in Austria, hierarchs of the Armenian Apostolic Church reaffirmed their faithfulness to Catholicos Karekin II of All Armenians and called on the authorities to stop the persecution of the clergy.

Italian media: Ukrainian authorities persecute the country’s largest confession

The Italian outlet L’Identità reported on mass searches, the arrests of clergy, and the ban on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which it describes as the largest Church in Ukraine.