The number of seized UOC churches becomes known

OCU raiders seize a temple from UOC believers in Cherkasy. Photo: spzh.media

On April 10, 2024, the Holy Synod of the UOC in its Statement on the violation of the rights of believers and religious organizations of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church named the number of temples seized from Orthodox communities, according to the Information and Education Department of the UOC.

The Synodal Statement notes that temples and other property are taken away from the Church, and religious communities of the UOC are illegally re-registered in favor of the newly-formed Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

"Nearly a thousand and a half churches have already been seized to date. Local self-governments take unlawful decisions to ban the use of property by religious organisations of our Church," the document reads.

As the UOJ wrote, the Synod stated earlier that the clergy and laity of the UOC are criminally prosecuted on spurious grounds.

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