Vandals desecrate UOC church in Pasichna village, Kyiv region

Vandalism in the UOC church in Pasichna. Photo: Facebook of Fr. Ioan Omelchuk

On December 11, unknown individuals desecrated the Holy Trinity Church of the UOC in the village of Pasichna in the Kyiv region. According to the parish priest, Archpriest Ioan Omelchuk, who reported the incident on Facebook, the vandals broke the front doors to gain entry to the church.

The priest shared photos showing the damage: the cross above the gates was bent, and inside the church, candles and sacred items were scattered. At the scene, the vandals left behind a knife and an empty bottle of sacramental wine.

"We hope the appropriate authorities will find the perpetrators, and we will pray for these people with the words of the Savior: 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,'" wrote Fr. Ioan.

As previously reported, in May 2022, activists from the OCU organized a community meeting to seize the Holy Trinity Church of the UOC in Pasichna. The parish continues to fight for the right to worship in their sanctity. In October, hearings were held in Kyiv's Economic Court regarding the illegal re-registration of the church by OCU representatives.

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