Vyshhorod clergy support persecuted UOC community in Novosilky

Photo: Prayer at the UOC Nativity of the Theotokos parish in the village of Novosilky. Source: Dozor
On November 8, 2025, clergy of the Vyshhorod Deanery of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church visited the parish of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in the village of Novosilky, Kyiv region. According to the Dozor Telegram channel, the priests prayed together with the faithful and the rector in a small construction trailer that now serves as the parish’s temporary chapel.
“The Vyshhorod clergy supported their brothers and sisters. Orthodox Christians held a water-blessing prayer service for the beginning of a good work,” the message reads.
It is noted that the liturgical life in Novosilky has never ceased – neither after the violent seizure of the church by OCU raiders nor after the arson attack that destroyed the parish’s house church.
Dozor reports that the parish’s liturgical items were lost in the fire and calls on believers to help purchase new ones.
Financial details for donations are available via the provided link.
As previously reported by the UOJ, in October 2024 a group of OCU raiders violently seized the UOC church, having first falsified documents and, under the direction of a Uniate cleric named Medynsky, broken into the sacred building.
After taking over the church, Epifaniy’s followers threw out the icons and liturgical books, mixing them with trash. Later, unknown persons again entered the private home where the UOC parishioners had gathered for prayer after their church was seized – smashing windows on the veranda and tearing up carpets. Soon after, unidentified attackers set fire to the makeshift place of prayer of the persecuted community.
Read also
Ukraine must have its own faith: Poroshenko's party lays out peace terms
Poroshenko’s party European Solidarity described church policy as a matter of national sovereignty and said there can be no compromises in this area.
432 UOC churches damaged in Ukraine during war, report says
According to the Religion on Fire project, 807 religious buildings in Ukraine have been damaged or destroyed as a result of hostilities.
DESS official gives number of clergy exempt from mobilization in Ukraine
A DESS representative said the actual number of clergy exempt from mobilization is significantly lower than the number of religious organizations designated as critical.
Cabinet keeps gas prices unchanged for religious organizations
The Cabinet has fixed gas prices for religious organizations through the end of the 2026–2027 heating season.
Concert held at seized Cherkasy cathedral
The OCU thanked the musical ensemble for choosing the Cherkasy cathedral as the venue for a Baroque music concert.
OCU activist admits breaking into UOC church in Sloviansk
Oleksandr Onyshchenko said that the OCU held its first "service" at the Seraphim Church, which had previously been broken into by forcing the locks and doors.