Young UOC parishioners of Buhryn sing Christmas carols at closed church

Believers of the Ascension parish of the UOC in Buhryn near the gate of their church. Photo: a screenshot from the Rivne Eparchy's video

Children of the Ascension parish of the UOC in Buhryn of the Hoshcha district, Rivne region, sang Christmas carols at the gate of their locked church, as reported by the press service of the Rivne Eparchy.

Pupils of the Sunday school, together with Matushka Ksenia Hryhoryeva and the community's rector Father Dmytro Hryhoryev, performed the Troparion of the Nativity of Christ and carols at the gate of their Ascension Church.

The young carolers walked through the entire village, glorifying the birth of Christ, and ended their journey at the church, which has been empty for more than a year.

"Now the parishioners have to pray in an adapted room, as the doors of the church remain closed due to constant attacks by the community elder. And this Christmas hymn is a reminder to us all: the church is not just walls. It is people, their faith, prayer, and love. We pray for the Ascension Church to open its doors again," the message says.

As reported by the UOJ, the religious community of the UOC in Buhryn won two court cases, confirming their legal right to their church. The conflict began after an attempt to re-register the community into the OCU structure, but the courts recognized these actions as illegal.

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