Odesa Eparchy: OCU used private security guards to seize UOC church
Supporters of the OCU, backed by a private security agency, forcibly occupied a UOC church in Odesa, assaulting parishioners and clergy.
The seizure of St. Alexander Nevsky Church in Odesa began when men dressed in black uniforms and armed with batons blocked the gates and entrances to the church, preventing parishioners and clergy from entering. Eyewitnesses and diocesan representatives identified the attackers as employees of the Odesa-based "Samson" security company, which is reportedly linked to a member of the regional council.
Physical force was used against the faithful during the takeover. According to eyewitness accounts, one priest was thrown to the ground and choked. Parishioners, including women, as well as the secretary of the Odesa Eparchy, were also reportedly assaulted.
Representatives of the OCU, led by a “chaplain” named Viktor, justified their actions by presenting documents allegedly showing that the parish had transferred to their jurisdiction. The Odesa Eparchy rejected these claims, describing the documents as forged.
Diocesan secretary Fr. Yevhen Hutiar stressed that the actual parish community, which built the church and has worshipped there for decades, never held any meeting regarding a change in canonical affiliation.
“This is a raider seizure carried out according to a well-established scheme,” Fr. Yevhen stated.
During the incident, one OCU activist reportedly snatched a prayer book from the hands of a praying priest and tore it apart, damaging pages containing an image of the Mother of God. Despite requests from the UOC clergy to allow them to complete their prayers, the attackers continued to exert pressure.
As a result, the clergy were forced to remove the Holy Gifts, the antimension, and the tabernacle from the altar before the building was locked.
The diocesan administration described the actions of the attackers as “methods of Soviet atheist terrorism.” The diocese’s lawyers are preparing lawsuits to recover the property for its lawful owners, and a police complaint has been filed regarding the assault on the priest.
As the UOJ reported, representatives of the OCU have stated that they intend to rename the seized St. Alexander Nevsky Church in Odesa.
