MP criticizes destruction of Icon of Christ Not Made by Hands in Baranivka

The mural in Baranivka, painted over in 2016. Photo: UOJ

Oleksiy Honcharenko, an MP from “European Solidarity,” has suddenly expressed concern over the destruction of a mural in Baranivka, Zhytomyr region, which activists painted over back in 2016.

“In Zhytomyr region, an image of Jesus Christ was painted over for allegedly hinting at the ‘Russian world’. Activists painted over the image of Jesus Christ, created in 2016 by artists on the wall of a former traffic police post in Baranivka, Zhytomyr region. Participants of the action regarded the depiction of His face as a manifestation of separatism,” Honcharenko wrote on his social media pages.

According to him, “Jesus Christ is not ‘Russian’ and does not support separatism.”

“We can put an end to this madness already. Ukraine is a Christian country. Images of Christ on our streets are normal, commendable, and desirable,” the MP wrote.

On this topic Khmelnytskyi police open case over seizure of Dormition Church in Ruzhychna

It should be recalled that in 2022 Honcharenko submitted parliamentary inquiries and created a petition demanding the expulsion of the UOC from the Kyiv-Pechersk, Pochaiv, and Sviatohirsk Lavras. Later, the MP called the UOC “evil that must disappear from Ukraine forever, together with all the FSB creatures in cassocks.”

Earlier, the UOJ reported that in Baranivka the image of Jesus Christ was painted over for “separatism” and alleged association with the “Russian world.”

Read also

Gay pride march held in Kharkiv metro

Several dozen people held an LGBT event in the Kharkiv metro.

Serbian Patriarch offers condolences over murder of Sviatohirsk Lavra monk

The head of the Serbian Orthodox Church called Sviatohirsk Lavra a refuge for the displaced and urged that the monk’s violent death not be turned into anyone’s weapon.

“Never seen before”: Israel reports record number of Hasidim in Uman

According to an Israeli police representative, 52,000 pilgrims are currently in Uman – 10,000 more than last year. The city itself has a population of about 75,000.

UOC faithful hold prayer vigil outside Lavra for more than 1,000 days

For three and a half years, Orthodox Christians have continued praying for peace and for the preservation of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.

Zelensky congratulates Jews on Rosh Hashanah

Volodymyr Zelensky wished Jews peace and the triumph of good over evil.

Kyiv Theological Academy publishes book on Orthodoxy in 17th-century Ukraine

With the blessing of the UOC Primate, the Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary has published a textbook marking the 430th anniversary of the birth of St. Petro Mohyla.