Former military raider donates land for new church in Rivne Region
UOC temple seizure in the village of Ivanychy, Rivne region. Photo: UOJ
A serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), who previously took part in the seizure of a UOC temple in the Dubno district of the Rivne region, has repented and donated his land for the construction of a new church to the church community. This was revealed in an interview with the YouTube channel "Tetiana Tsaruk. In Search of Truth" by the secretary of the Rivne eparchy of the UOC, Archpriest Viktor Zemlianoy.
"He participated in the church raid, then became disillusioned with his actions when he experienced different conditions," said Father Viktor. "Now, in a sign of repentance, he has given the community a plot of land – 50 acres – for us to build a church."
According to the priest, cases where participants in the seizure of holy places repent for their actions are not uncommon.
"I know those who have come back from the war, returned to our temple and repented," Father Viktor said.
He noted that mainly representatives of territorial defense (militarized volunteer formations of territorial communities) are involved in church raiding, individuals who did not participate in combat actions on the front lines.
"He hasn't been in the trench yet, but he's already been given a grenade, a rifle, a mask, and he decided to 'fight.' A victim of TSN propaganda. In the majority, those guys who were actually on the front lines will never go and seize temples," emphasized the priest.
As it was previously reported, on October 19, 2023, a new church built by the UOC community was consecrated in the village of Povcha in the Rivne region, whose church was seized by supporters of the OCU in 2019.
Read also
UOC community in Germany moves to Constantinople Patriarchate
UOC clergy in Erfurt argued their decision to transfer to the Church of Constantinople by claiming that Germany is supposedly the canonical territory of the Phanar.
Volyn deputy on Forgiveness Sunday: I ask forgiveness from everyone except UOC
Huz’s aide said that UOC believers “have no love.”
UOC delivers charging stations to frontline communities in Donetsk region
The UOC Social Department sent five high-capacity power units to Druzhkivka, Lyman, and Sloviansk; the equipment will help residents cope with electricity outages.
Participants of U.S. Christian forum call for "moral imperative" to shape AI
At the conference in the United States, theologians and IT experts discussed how artificial intelligence affects relationships, faith, and society, emphasizing the need for ethical frameworks.
Radical groups reported among those who seized UOC church in Shchaslyve
During the seizure of the church in Shchaslyve, radical groupings acted, including the “Combat Brotherhood of Ukraine” and “Right Youth,” who present themselves as “believers.”
His Beatitude Onuphry addresses the faithful on fourth anniversary of war
On the anniversary of the start of the full-scale hostilities, the Primate of the UOC called for prayer for peace, support for the defenders, and the preservation of the people’s spiritual unity.