OCU "priest" explains why soldiers were convinced to fire at UOC church
Ruins of the Annunciation Church of the UOC. Photo: Bahmut in UA
Serhiy Dmytriev, Deputy Head of the OCU's Social Services and Charity Department, stated in an interview with Livyi Bereh that the reluctance to fire on an Orthodox church is merely a "prejudice." He also described how one of the "priests" of their structure persuaded soldiers to fire at the church.
According to Dmytriev, during the 30th Brigade's liberation of Kharkiv region, Russian forces took up position in an Orthodox church (apparently a UOC church, as noted by the editorial team).
"The mortar battery didn’t want to fire at the church. Then the chaplain, the priest, said that if Ukrainians were being killed from this church, it was no longer a church, just a building. The church is the people. And so, we advanced. By the way, it wasn’t an architectural monument; it was a new structure. What’s important is that this was said by the priest, because the soldiers wouldn’t listen to their commander," Dmytriev explained.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that Serhiy Dmytriev remained silent regarding a journalist's blasphemous remarks about Holy Communion.
Read also
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.
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.
Khmelnytskyi Eparchy delivers 20 tons of food to Kyiv Theological Schools
Believers of the UOC eparchy collected vegetables, grains, and oil for KDAiS students.
Pashinyan forbids priests to mention Armenian Church head during services
The Prime Minister of Armenia publicly confirmed that state structures demand that Catholicos Karekin II be not commemorated during services attended by the politician.