OCU cleric refers to anniversary of Odesa tragedy as “Barbecue Day”

Yasenets congratulated Ukrainians on May 2 as "Barbecue Day." Photo: Yasenets’ Facebook

On the anniversary of the tragedy at Odesa’s Kulikove Field, Yaroslav Yasenets, a cleric of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), posted a message on Facebook stating:

“Congratulations to all involved on Barbecue Day (some of them have already received eternal life in battle).”

This statement was published on May 2, marking the 11th anniversary of the 2014 fire in the Odesa Trade Unions House, in which 42 people died. Yasenets later deleted the post but left up another one in which he is shown holding a skewer of grilled meat.

In the comments under his post, the OCU cleric wrote: “I suggest we observe a moment of silence on Barbecue Day – in memory of Odesa's liberation from the 'separs' [separatists].”

One of his followers, Oleksii Tkachenko, commented: “A reenactment of the events in Odesa 11 years ago.”

Earlier, the UOJ reported that Yasenets had urged staff of Ukraine’s military enlistment offices to pray to Saint John the Warrior for help in catching draft dodgers, claiming that the saint aids in tracking down runaway slaves and servants.

Read also

Bill banning LGBT and childfree propaganda adopted in Belarus

A bill in the Belarusian parliament provides for administrative liability for propaganda of homosexuality and childlessness. 

In women's monastery of Holovchyntsi village, monastic tonsure performed

In the Khmelnytskyi Eparchy, two nuns were tonsured into the lesser schema.

Finnish MP urges EU to repeal law banning criticism of LGBT

Päivi Räsänen stated that the "hate speech" law in Europe serves as a means for censorship.

Displaced children from Dnipro baptized at orphanage in Mukachevo

A priest of the Mukachevo Eparchy of the UOC performed the baptism of children from the "Barvinok" orphanage.

During Holy Week, Catholics celebrate Mass at Holy Sepulchre without believers

The RCC bishop, who was previously barred by police from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, was nevertheless allowed to conduct a service there on Thursday.

UGCC calls murder of TRC employee "particularly grave sin"

UGCC cleric Yustin Boyko emphasized that hatred against TRC employees is being artificially incited on social media.