Territorial defense, supported by police, seizes UOC church in Khodosivka

Seized UOC church in Khodosivka. Photo: "Monasteries and Churches of the UOC" website

During the night on December 11, 2023, around 20 members of the territorial defense, supported by the police, seized the UOC church dedicated to St. Paraskeva Friday in the village of Khodosivka, Kyiv region. This was reported to the UOJ by the church's rector, Archpriest Mykolai Komarnitsky.

According to him, representatives of the local territorial defense, accompanied by the police, arrived at the church at 4:30 a.m., after which they cordoned off the church territory.

The rector stated that the raiders of the OCU cut the church locks on the doors of the church and the building where the Sunday school operated. They replaced them with their locks and then sealed the buildings.

"Together with the police and territorial defense, a man in a red jacket came, holding a suitcase with tools. It was he who drilled out all the locks and installed new ones," said the priest.

The rector explained that the UOC community had been in litigation with representatives of the OCU for over a year. As a result, the case that was heard in the Economic Regional Court fell apart, and on November 27, 2023, the court referred the case to the district level.

"They thought the court would rule in their favor. But no, that's why they decided to seize the church. They didn't even have any court orders to seal the church," he added.

According to Father Mykolai, behind the seizure is "Metropolitan" Alexander Drabinko of the OCU, who repeatedly sent "hieromonk" Veniamin Kozak to the priest.

"Together with Drabinko, Kozak has already taken 5 churches in the region. Kozak threatened me, even wanted to 'put me on a leash.' He said I owed them about 55,000 UAH," claims the church rector.

Father Mykolai also noted that the church is now closed, and the OCU has already announced its "worship service," which is slated for Sunday, December 17.

As the UOJ reported, the MP stated that over the past year, raiders of the OCU have seized hundreds of UOC churches, using physical violence against parishioners.

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