How did Christ and the Apostle Paul describe OCU's adept Hryshchuk?

Roman Hryshchuk, hooded, during the church raid in Verkhni Stanivtsi. Photo: UOJ

He admits they came under cover of darkness – because the UOC faithful are present during the day. In his own words, he wanted to avoid creating footage that could be used by Russian media, portraying “OCU raiders crucifying Russian-speaking girls.” That was his idea of a joke.

But when one recalls the image of a young UOC woman, her face bloodied – struck with a stick, whether by Hryshchuk himself or one of his “brother priests” – the humor vanishes. It becomes something else entirely: a chilling symbol of sacrilege.

“Our community,” Hryshchuk said, “in order to avoid media provocations, is forced to act outside working hours, and in secret.”

Let those words settle: outside working hours… in secret. They echo something far more ancient – and far more ominous.

Do they not call to mind the words of Christ Himself, who spoke of those who “do not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climb in by another way”? Or the solemn warning of the Apostle Paul, who described those who come “like a thief in the night”?

Scripture names such people plainly.

A thief. A robber.

What better words could describe the one who calls himself a priest, yet comes cloaked in night, wielding violence, and desecrating what is holy?

This is not just a matter of broken doors and shattered peace. It is a question of truth – and the name by which such deeds are known before God.

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