St. Andrew's Church in Cherkasy, seized from UOC, closed
Police guard the St. Andrew's Church of the UOC, closed by authorities. Photo: 18000
The St. Andrew's Church in Cherkasy, seized from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), was ordered to be "temporarily closed" by local authorities and the OCU (Orthodox Church of Ukraine), according to the local resource 18000.
The "metropolitan" of the OCU in Cherkasy, I. Yaremenko, explained to journalists that this was done to "prevent so-called prayer vigils" by UOC believers.
Additionally, Yaremenko claimed that the city is currently experiencing a "dangerous period."
"In particular, this concerns May 9, when Moscow churches will celebrate the victory of the USSR, while the civilized world will be commemorating the victory over Nazism in World War II," assured the "metropolitan."
It will be recalled that on May 6, police under the direction of the city's mayor, A. Bondarenko, expelled UOC parishioners and clergy from their church. Officials justified the action with documents citing the "transfer to the OCU" of a non-existent fictitious community that had never been associated with the church. In a conversation with the mayor, parishioners requested to see the people who had supposedly "transferred" to the OCU. Bondarenko refused to do so.
Read also
Chernivtsi bishop consecrates new altar for persecuted Kerstentsi community
In Kerstentsi, believers built a new Transfiguration Church after the previous one was seized by OCU supporters.
Monastic tonsure held at Krasnohorsky All Saints Monastery
Novice Vadym Serkhovets took monastic vows with the name Euthymius.
Over 25,000 faithful pray at Romanian Nicula Monastery on Dormition feast
Thousands of pilgrims walked a 7-kilometer procession to the Nicula Monastery for the feast.
OCU cleric allows attending Uniate churches
OCU cleric Oleksii Filiuk, responding to the question of whether an Orthodox Christian can become a parishioner of a Uniate church, stated that God is one, and one can attend whichever church is closer.
US police detain participants of anti-Islamic demonstration
Police detained protesters following clashes during the "Christian Crusaders March" rally.
Mokrets authorities seek to halt construction of UOC church on private land
After the seizure of the Dormition Church, believers began constructing a new prayer building; however, local authorities are now demanding that the legality of the construction be verified.