“Snot in the nose”: OCU cleric hurt by UOC believers for not joining OCU

Andriy Sekh said that parishioners of the UOC in Darovka “will never see" their men coming back from the front. Photo: Facebook of the Volodymyr-Volyn Eparchy

On November 13, 2023, several people led by the cleric of the OCU, Andriy Sekh, attempted to take control of the Nikolaev Chapel in the village of Darivka in Volyn, according to the Volodymyr-Volyn Eparchy's Facebook page.

The eparchy reports that a year ago, with the support of the authorities, Sekh seized the UOC's St. Michael's Church in Darivka. The community then built the St. Nicholas Chapel. Now, the "priest" decided to seize it as well. However, this attempt was unsuccessful. In the published footage, it can be seen that Andriy Sekh behaved extremely arrogantly, rudely, and cynically, stating to the believers that they were "nobodies" here.

He pointed out to the believers that their documents for the chapel allegedly did not comply with the legislation, to which they replied that their men from the front would come, and they would resolve everything.

"You won't see them come back," cynically replied the OCU cleric. This infuriated the people, and they began to chant "Shame on you!" to him.

Disappointed by the failure, Sekh claimed that he was treated disrespectfully, calling one of the parishioners "snot in the nose" and hitting her hand.

"It opened its snout and shouted at me (referring to a female UOC parishioner – Ed.)," he complained to the police.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that in Sokyriany, Bukovyna, UOC believers managed to defend their church against raiders.

Read also

U.S. House of Representatives passes ban on sex-change surgeries for minors

The lower house of Congress supported an initiative limiting medical interventions that could have irreversible consequences for the health of minors.

Armenian Church to appeal to international bodies over government pressure

The decision was made by the Supreme Spiritual Council in Etchmiadzin against the backdrop of criminal cases, pressure on the clergy, and the state's attempts to interfere in church life.

Pashinyan's supporters attempt to storm Etchmiadzin Cathedral in Armenia

The confrontation around the Armenian Apostolic Church intensified after rebellious hierarchs called for the Catholicos's resignation and attempted to exert forceful pressure in Etchmiadzin.

Persecuted community of Maliatyntsi celebrates first patronal feast after seizure

In Bukovyna, the faithful of the St. Nicholas community in the village of Maliatyntsi celebrated the Feast Day of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker of Myra in Lycia for the first time after the church seizure.

European authorities downplay scale of Christian persecution, report says

Human rights defenders reported an increase in attacks on believers in the EU and pointed out that official statistics do not reflect the real level of anti-Christian hostility.

Mukachevo Eparchy bishops congratulate orphaned children on St Nicholas Day

Metropolitan Theodore and Bishop Hilarion visited the “New Family” children’s shelter in Uzhhorod.