160-year-old UOC church destroyed by fire in Kharkiv region village

St. Nicholas Church in the village of Russkiy Orchyk, Kharkiv Region. Photo: Kharkiv Eparchy of the UOC

On May 31, a fire destroyed St. Nicholas Church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the village of Russkiy Orchyk, Kharkiv Region, according to the website of the Kharkiv Eparchy.

The eparchy said the shrine was consumed by flames as a result of an emergency incident. The ruling bishop expressed his condolences to the parish rector and the faithful of the community, assuring them of his prayers for the church’s rebirth.

According to available information, the lost church was a wooden architectural monument approximately 160 years old. Given the extent of the destruction, restoring the historic sanctuary is likely to be extremely difficult.

As noted by the local history website Shukach, wood was the primary building material of the church, while stone was used only for the foundation. The structure was adorned with intricate carved details, and its interior featured wall paintings and works of decorative and applied art.

The loss of St. Nicholas Church is a heavy blow not only to the Orthodox community of Russkiy Orchyk but also to the wider Church. Along with a place of prayer, Kharkiv Region has lost a precious monument of its historical and cultural heritage.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Church of Sts. Peter and Paul in Snovsk was damaged by shelling.

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