People in balaclavas seize UOC temple in Dumenko’s native village

“Titushki” and police officers at the entrance to the UOC temple in the village of Stara Zhadova. Photo: facebook.com/orthobuk

On September 28, 2023, raiders associated with the OCU, with the support of individuals wearing balaclavas, seized the UOC's Archangels Michael and Gabriel Church in the village of Stara Zhadova in the Chernivtsi region. This information was reported by the press service of the Chernivtsi Diocese of the UOC.

According to reports, in order to seize the temple, “titushki” were brought to the village, who lined up at the entrance to the temple and, with the support of law enforcement officers, did not allow UOC believers into the shrine..

"When approaching the church, they, together with the police, stood at the entrance to the church and did not allow parishioners to enter, thus enabling the proponents of the OCU to commit the crime –  breaking the church doors, entering it, and desecrating it," the UOC stated.

The organizer of the seizure is reported to be Chernivtsi Regional State Administration official Mykola Herheliuk, who has previously been involved in organizing church seizures in the Chernivtsi region with the participation of individuals wearing balaclavas.

As the UOJ reported, in Dumenko’s native village, the “priest” of the OCU was caught breaking into a UOC church.

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