Bishop of OCCLS who concelebrated with Dumenko seizes parish in Brno
Bishop Isaiah of Šumperk (left). Photo: pomisna.info
The parishioners of the Church of the Holy Martyr Wenceslaus in the city of Brno (the Czech Republic) announced the forcible seizure of their parish by the pro-Phanar Bishop Isaiah of Šumperk.
“On August 25, 2021, we were informed that, due to the change in the new status (Bishop Isaiah), the Olomouc-Brno Diocese had to accept the church and change the locks. Our spiritual fathers received this message by e-mail at a time when the violent seizure of our Orthodox church was already taking place,” reads a message on the website of the Brno religious community.
The seizure was carried out personally by Bishop Isaiah with several clergymen and employees of the diocese. Archpriest Joseph Feisak, who previously headed the community of the Holy Martyr Wenceslaus in Brno but was removed by the bishop, was forbidden to enter the church.
The parishioners of the seized temple emphasized that they would never leave their beloved church, even it was illegally closed for them, and would not renounce the spiritual heritage of their ancestors and the results of their own labours.
As reported, the Czech hierarch Isaiah (Slaninka), the vicar bishop of the Olomouc-Brno Diocese, was ordained in 2015 during the crisis in the OCCLS. The Phanar then attempted to create an alternative synod in the OCCLS. This hierarch promotes the Phanar’s interests in the Czech Republic and concelebrated with Dumenko in 2019, despite the ban of the Primate of the OCCLS.
The UOJ wrote that Bishop Isaiah attempted to seize the parish in Brno and was illegally using the property of the Prague Diocese of the OCCLS.
Read also
Hearing in Lower Lavra case postponed again due to judge’s illness
The session of the Northern Commercial Court of Appeal was scheduled for March 5, 2026.
Greek MP: Those who beat priests in Ukraine serve the devil
Greek politician and cardiac surgeon Nikos Papadopoulos, leader of the Greek Pulse party, condemned the persecution of Orthodox clergy in Ukraine.
OIDAC Europe report includes attack on Sviatohirsk Lavra
The international human-rights organization OIDAC Europe mentioned an attack on the Sviatohirsk Lavra in its report on hate crimes against Christians in Europe.
Hate crimes against Christians on the rise in Europe, report says
The Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe reported 39 incidents targeting believers, churches, and religious symbols.
British Christians oppose idea of dresses for boys at school
Christian organizations have criticized a statement by the UK’s education minister suggesting that boys should be allowed to express their gender identity in primary school.
European Parliament hosts gender-identity class for schoolchildren
A session on gender identity was held in the European Parliament building for children aged 12–13 – participation was mandatory, and parents had no option to refuse.