Khmelnytskyi Eparchy comments on seizure of the church in Pylypy
Church in the village of Pylypy. Photo: Khmelnytskyi Eparchy of the UOC
On July 16, authorities and supporters of the OCU forcibly seized the St. Nicholas Church in the village of Pylypy, Khmelnytskyi district (Krasyliv deanery), reports the Khmelnytskyi Eparchy.
The seizure of the church was overseen by A. Chernievych, a deputy of the Khmelnytskyi district council, V. Polishchuk, the head of the village of Pylypy, S. Bobukh, N. Svystun, Y. Babiychuk, and other OCU supporters among the authorities.
The religious community, together with their rector, Archpriest Valentyn Savchuk, remains fully within the Ukrainian Orthodox Church under the leadership of its Primate, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine.
"The liturgical life of the community continues. On Sunday, July 21, 2024, the Divine Liturgy will be celebrated in a room repurposed for a church, located next to the seized one," the diocese's press service reported.
As reported by the UOJ, in May 2024, OCU supporters announced the seizure of churches in the town of Krasyliv and the village of Pylypy. However, at that time, the UOC religious community managed to defend their shrine.
Read also
Patriarch Theophilos addresses believers with words of support ahead of Pascha
The Primate of the Church of Jerusalem, in a video address, highlighted that even in conditions of war, Christians are not abandoned by God and place their hope solely in the Resurrection of Christ.
Muslims of Russia call war with Ukraine "sacred jihad"
The Mufti of Chechnya stated that all Islamic religious leaders should be ready to stand alongside RF soldiers.
Kyiv UOC Eparchy holds aid drive for children and people with disabilities
In Boyarka, Kyiv region, more than 50 families received food and clothing as part of a charitable outreach held on the eve of the feast of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem.
New monastics tonsured at Putyvl’s Molchensky Convent
The ruling bishop of the Konotop Eparchy performed a monastic tonsure.
US Protestant Churches hold Easter events with drone shows and spectacles
Protestant communities in the United States marked Easter with large-scale events featuring drones, helicopters, and spectacle-driven shows aimed at drawing people in and conveying the Gospel message.
Temporary church of persecuted UOC community burns down in Telchi
In Volyn, a fire has effectively destroyed the building where the faithful had been praying after their church was seized.