UOC monastery in Cherkasy cordoned off by special forces with machine guns
A UOC believer and police officers near the monastery of the Nativity of the Theotokos (UOC) in Cherkasy. Photo: spzh.news
On the evening of 16 November 2023, armed special forces, SBU officers and representatives of the National Corps cordoned off the territory of the monastery of the Nativity of the Mother of God of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Cherkasy, attempted to be raided by OCU activists, reports Archpriest Georgy Pohranichnyy, the head of the Cherkasy Eparchy's Legal Department.
According to him, the OCU activists have already put new locks on the doors and then surrounded it waiting for the faithful and clergy of the UOC, who are holding an evening service in the temple.
The priest said that the group of raiders brought with them documents on the re-registration of the community. The documents say that the believers allegedly voted for the "transition" to the OCU as early as 10 August 2023, and the vote itself allegedly took place on the territory of the monastery.
At the same time, according to the head of the Legal Department of the eparchy, no meetings took place on the territory of the monastery on 10 August.
"OCU activists came to the monastery with the representatives of the National Corps. They brought along an extract from the website "Opendatabot" that the community moved from one legal entity (UOC – Ed.) to the OCU, as well as the order on the appointment of a new rector from the OCU," he said.
Fr. Georgy also added that together with the activists, there are 5 OCU chaplains on the church territory.
As reported, activists with the participation of the police attempted to seize the UOC monastery in Cherkasy.
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.