In Kremenchuk, UOC believers defend their shrines from OCU's raid attempts

Metropolitan Nikolai, clergy and believers of the Kremenchuk Eparchy of the UOC near the Holy Trinity Church. Photo: kremen-eparh.org

Parishioners and clergy of the Assumption Cathedral and Holy Trinity Church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) in Kremenchuk are defending their legal right to pray in their sacred spaces. According to the Kremenchuk Eparchy, there was reliable information that "the seizure of churches using physical force and weapons was planned for today, September 19."

The diocese reminded that in early September, these religious communities were illegally re-registered in favor of the OCU.

"The parishioners of the Holy Assumption Cathedral and Holy Trinity Church express their loyalty to His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry, the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and reaffirm their unwavering membership in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church," the statement said.

The press service released a video showing members of the religious community voting to remain in their Church.

A local media outlet published a report from the scene and interviewed UOC priests and believers.

"This morning, there was a heavy police presence near the Holy Trinity Church. It turns out that today, OCU representatives planned to come and hold a service in the church, but the UOC clergy locked the gates and closed the building," the journalists wrote.

Father Pavlo, the acting secretary of the Kremenchuk Eparchy, emphasized that the religious community had not authorized any individuals or legal entities to represent them or act on their behalf. He expressed surprise at how some parishioners could have joined the OCU and could not understand how the Poltava Regional Military Administration managed to re-register the UOC churches under the jurisdiction of the OCU.

"Today, they wanted to seize the church..." Father Pavlo stated.

Speaking to the journalists, some parishioners mentioned that they had been attending this church for 20 years and would continue to do so, remaining loyal "to our priest and specifically to the UOC."

As previously reported by the UOJ, OCU representatives carried out the illegal re-registration of the Assumption Cathedral and Holy Trinity Church in Kremenchuk under their jurisdiction.

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