Uspenka parishioner of UOC: We pray for the people who seized our church
A believer from the UOC community in Uspenka. Photo: a screenshot / “1Kozak” YouTube-channel
The Holy Dormition community of the Alexandria Eparchy of the UOC in the village of Uspenka is praying in its new church-house not only for benefactors but also for the invaders – in the hope that God will reason them, one of the parishioners told the journalist of the “1Kozak” channel.
The parishioner spoke about the life of the community after the church in Uspenka was seized and sealed by supporters of the OCU.
“We believed in our priest,” she said. “He did not leave us, he stayed with us. He did all this with his own hands (a new church in an adapted room). We moved to pray here. And we all really like it here."
The believer thanked everyone who supported the community in a difficult moment. “We are very grateful to everyone. We pray for everyone,” she said.
“We also pray for these people who did this to us,” added the UOC parishioner. “We pray for them. Maybe, the Lord will reason them and they will understand that they did the wrong thing. They didn’t do this to us – they did it to God. They desecrated this temple. As you go [past] – the soul hurts."
As reported earlier, on November 6, 2020, the church of the UOC in Uspenka was sealed until a court decision.
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.