Ascension Church in Novotroitske destroyed due to shelling
The destroyed Ascension Church in Novotroitske. Photo: TG channel "Pokrovsk Vicariate."
The Ascension Church in Novotroitske, built in 1893, has been destroyed due to artillery shelling during the ongoing conflict in the Donetsk region, as reported by the Pokrovsk Eparchy on its Telegram channel. The wooden church, which was over 130 years old, suffered critical damage from the shelling.
According to the eparchy, the artillery strikes destroyed the domes and bell tower, damaged the supporting structures, and affected the church's interior. The full extent of the damage cannot be assessed due to the ongoing military operations in the area.
Historically, the church was built with donations from the philanthropist Y.I. Drevytsky and served several nearby villages. It remained operational during the Soviet period, and from 1976 to 1992, the church was led by Father David (Nelyubov), whose grave was located on the church grounds.
The destruction of the Ascension Church adds to the list of Orthodox Christian holy sites that have been damaged or destroyed during the ongoing conflict in the Donbas region.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that the St. Michael's Church of the UOC in Pokrovsk was once again hit by shelling.
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