A site consecrated for UOC Povcha temple to be built instead of seized one

Consecration of the site for the construction of the UOC temple in Povcha. Photo: UOJ

On August 10, 2021, with the blessing of Metropolitan Bartholomew of Rivne and Ostroh, a land plot was consecrated in the village of Povcha, Rivne region, where they plan to build a new temple of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. This was reported by the UOJ correspondent.

The rite of consecration was led by Archpriest Anatoly Bogdanov, one of the initiators of the construction.

Clerics from neighboring settlements came to support the religious community of Povcha village on that day.

The believers said that the house in which they had to pray after the seizure of their Holy Trinity church by supporters of the OCU is in disrepair. In addition, the former head of the village council took the documents for the church house, and now the UOC community cannot confirm its ownership of the premises in which it is praying.

“People collected a considerable amount of money and decided to start construction,” said Fr. Anatoly. “The issue was only about the land plot. However, God sent us a kind man, Nikolai Moroziuk, who donated his land."

As early as next week they plan to carry out groundwork and fill the foundation in Povcha.

The young parish rector, Fr. Andrei Stupnitsky, who has been taking care of the persecuted UOC community for less than a year, asks all those concerned to pray for the believers to be able to make their dreams of a new church a reality without unnecessary hurdles.

The church in honor of the Holy Trinity in the village of Povcha was taken away in 2019. The conflict around it lasted for almost five years until the former head of the village council took the keys from the religious community of the UOC.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the UOC temple, built to replace the seized one, was consecrated in Buscha of the Rivne region.

Read also

RCC community accuses MinCulture of manipulation over St. Nicholas Church

The Ministry’s actions, according to the parish priest, demonstrate “political manipulation and a lack of principles.”