Horodysche authorities and OCU trying to seize St. Michael Church of UOC

St. Michael's Church of the UOC in Horodyshche. Photo: Wikimedia

In Horodysche, Cherkasy region, representatives of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) and local authorities are attempting to seize the ancient St. Michael's Church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) from the believers. This was reported by the Telegram channel "Dozor".

The ownership rights to the church belong to the UOC parish. At the same time, officials have included the church in the list of architectural historical heritage. Following this, the Smila Prosecutor's Office initiated legal proceedings.

The faithful of the UOC have ensured proper legal protection for themselves. Then, just a month after the proceedings began, the authorities, according to journalists, colluded with OCU activists to carry out an illegal re-registration of the religious community of the church.

It is noted that in this way, the raiders attempted to change the defendant in the legal process to an absolutely loyal individual.

"The situation is made even more tragic by the fact that the case involves the brother of the church's rector, Fr. Ioann Zhigalo - Bohdan Zhigalo. Bohdan Zhigalo was once an Orthodox priest. He left the UOC for the OCU back in 2019. Now, the parish of the church has been illegally re-registered to him. In fact, this OCU cleric is helping the state seize the church from Orthodox Christians and his own brother," the comments in Dozor say.

According to Orthodox journalists, the attempt to change the defendant has not yet succeeded, and the believers of the UOC continue to defend their shrine.

As reported by the UOJ, Metropolitan Theodosiy previously warned that the authorities of Cherkasy are preparing a crime against the UOC.

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