In Shchaslyve village near Kyiv, OCU activists seize UOC church
Seizure of the St. Nicholas Church in Shchaslyve. Photo: UOC
Parishioners of St. Nicholas Church in the village of Shchaslyve of the Boryspil Eparchy of the UOC reported the seizure of the shrine by OCU activists, writes the Information and Educational Department of the UOC.
On February 20, supporters of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) broke and replaced the locks on the church doors. UOC parishioners claim that in August last year, OCU activists held a fictitious meeting at which they declared the community's transition to their jurisdiction. However, the legitimate members of the community, having held their own meetings, confirmed their desire to remain in the fold of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
On February 21, when the seizure became known, the rector and believers arrived at the church. According to them, there were many police officers, people in military uniform and young people from other villages at the scene. Some parishioners who tried to film were threatened with reprisals by activists.
As the UOJ reported, OCU raiders cut locks on a UOC church in Kuzmyn. Seizures of UOC churches using force and forging meeting protocols have been occurring in various regions of Ukraine for several years.
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