Mnishyn: UOC prayer house vandalized, bells cut down

Door of the UOC prayer house covered in paint. Photo: rivne.church.ua

On September 18, 2022, in the village of Mnishyn, Rivne region, unknown individuals vandalized the house where members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) community pray, according to the press service of the UOC’s Rivne Eparchy. The attackers poured paint over the building, cut down the bells, and stole a candle stand.

When the faithful arrived for the Sunday service, they first noticed damage to the church fence. Then they discovered a cut-down bell and red liquid poured over the doors of the house where they gather for worship each Sunday. Later, it was also determined that a candle stand had been stolen.

The UOC religious community called the police. Law enforcement officers arrived at the scene, recorded the incident, and questioned witnesses.

Despite this act of vandalism, the UOC community held its regular Sunday service. Meanwhile, the OCU community's church remains closed, and no liturgy was held.

To recall: on March 24, 2019, representatives of the UOC-KP and activists from the Right Sector attempted to seize the UOC’s Church of the Protection of the Mother of God in Mnishyn. They justified their actions by citing an order from the head of the local district administration regarding alternating worship services. At the time, law enforcement officers prevented the raiders from putting their own locks on the church doors. However, on May 12, OCU activists assaulted parishioners and seized the UOC’s church in Mnishyn. Since then, the UOC community has been holding services every Sunday in a small chapel on the church property.

As previously reported by the UOJ, the UOC priest in Mnishyn said that after the church was seized, a national flag was hung in place of the icon.

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