In Rzhavintsy, Bukovyna, OCU activists together with police raid UOC temple
Raiders breaking the door of the UOC temple in the village of Rzhavintsy. Photo: a video screenshot from the Facebook page of the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Eparchy
On 20 December 2023, in the village of Rzhavintsy, Chernivtsi region, OCU supporters seized the Holy Trinity Church of the UOC, reports the press service of the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Raiders backed by police officers with the help of a crowbar and an angle grinder broke the door of the temple and got inside.
The seizure of the shrine was personally led by the chairman of the Yurkovtsy Village Council Vitaliy Shafer (Rzhavintsy belongs to the Yurkovetsky UTC).
"This is how a ‘voluntary’ transfer to the OCU looks like when the police fence off the temple parishioners and the raiders break down the door. What god do they pray to after that?" the press service commented on the video of the temple seizure, published on the eparchy's Facebook page.
On 24 November 2023, activists and "priests" of the OCU held a meeting of their supporters in the village House of Culture, where they voted for the "transition" of the Trinity parish of the UOC to the Epifaniy Dumenko structure.
As reported, on 18 December 2023, OCU raiders seized the UOC's Peter and Paul Church in the town of Bucha, Kyiv region.
Read also
OCU chaplain: A soldier should not feel guilty for killing enemies
According to a cleric of the OCU, the word “killing” should not even be used in this context.
AFU servicewoman punished by “being sent to the frontline” for defending UOC
An OCU representative explained how commanders punish UOC believers who defend their Church.
UOC church seized after OCU's and UGCC's provocation at soldier's funeral
Supporters of the UGCC brought the body of a soldier into the church, pressuring a UOC priest to conduct the funeral according to the Greek Catholic rite in an Orthodox church.
UOC hierarch calls on the faithful to pray for the return of seized shrine
Metropolitan Theodosiy urged the faithful to communal and personal prayer to Archangel Michael.
Russian Orthodox Church Primate: Christ did not condemn death penalty
The Patriarch added that, although the Church does not welcome the death penalty, it has never condemned it if this punishment is carried out in accordance with the law.
Metropolitan Jonathan appeals sentence to Supreme Court
The Supreme Court has requested criminal case files from the Vinnytsia City Court for cassation review.