UOC rector in Strilchyntsi: After seizure, 200-year-old church stands empty
A church dome. Photo: transkarpatia.net
It hurts that the 200-year-old temple is empty, said the clergyman of the Tulchin Eparchy, Archpriest Pavel Petlevany, rector of the seized temple of the Prophet of God Elijah in the village of Strilchyntsi, Vinnitsa region, in a commentary to the UOJ.
The schismatics closed the old village church three years ago. According to the clergyman, since then the village has been divided, and now believers of the UOC and supporters of the OCU even go to different shops.
“We serve in the church yard near the temple. In summer, nightingales sing along with the choir, and in winter – a frosty wind. But the parish not only survived but also multiplied. Even the children of parishioners who came from Germany went with us on the Great Cross Procession in Kyiv,” he said.
The community continues to struggle for its church in the courts, it already has 16 court hearings and lots of papers behind, "but we hope for the rule of law".
“It hurts that the church with a 200-year history is empty,” added Fr. Pavel.
He explained that representatives of the OCU appear in the seized church extremely rarely: in 2019 – 5 times, in 2020 – never. This year there has been a visiting "priest", but he refused to "serve" because only three people came to him.
As reported, earlier the publicist named the reasons why the churches seized by the OCU will remain empty.
Read also
WHO urges securing equal access to IVF for same-sex couples
WHO’s new recommendations substantially broaden the concept of infertility and open the door to widespread use of assisted reproduction, including for same-sex couples and transgender individuals.
In Kniazhychi, brotherhood defends their monastery from seizure
Parishioners and the brotherhood of the UOC Transfiguration Monastery in Kniazhychi succeeded in defending their sacred site from the attempts of security forces and raiders.
UOC Primate congratulates Met. Arseniy on 20 years of episcopal ordination
The Primate of the UOC sent greetings to Metropolitan Arseniy on the anniversary of his personal Pentecost.
UGCC urges faithful to be ready to lay down their lives for Ukraine
The UGCC hierarchs have published a letter to the faithful urging them to cleanse the country of Soviet methods of governance, military organization, and economic management.
Condition of Metropolitan Theodosiy shows first signs of recovery
For the first time since his hospitalization, the health indicators of Metropolitan Theodosiy of Cherkasy have begun to improve.
Court to choose preventive measure for Met. Arseniy in Dnipro on December 5
The prosecutor demands that the detention of the UOC hierarch be extended.