Temple in Ptichya seized by supporters of Kiev Patriarchate
Believers of the UOC were forced under the gun to leave the Holy Assumption Church.
After the information on the official lifting of the arrest from the Holy Assumption Church in the village of Ptichya of the Dubno district, Rivne region, appeared late on April 2, supporters of the Kiev Patriarchate seized the temple by force. As a UOJ correspondent reports, the hostile takeover took place with total inactivity of the police and with the help of ex-fighters of the battalions "Aidar" and "Azov".
23.50: The cars with the fighters of "Aidar" and "Azov" arrive and with their help Filaret supporters – about 30 people – within minutes push representatives of the UOC community from the temple, threatening with guns. Meanwhile, one of the women gets injured. The parishioners call the event nothing but a terrorist act.
23.30: Supporters of the Kiev Patriarchate start storming the church, with the windows broken, and the locks sawed with a grinder, reports the UOJ correspondent. Near the temple there are two police patrols are on call, but they are not interfering in what is happening. Inside, the representatives of the UOC community, legal owners of the Holy Assumption Church, are locked.
22.40: The announcement with the corresponding text is posted in one of the Viber groups of activists:
"Attention!!!
There was a court on the church in the village of Ptichya. Moskals won. Must be a takeover.
Volunteers, АТO soldiers, Azov fighters are now raising people – locals ask for help.
Two cars with ATO veterans have gone off. Who has the opportunity arrive and raise the people.
Vlg. Ptichya – a village near Dubno.
No social networks yet."
22.20: As our correspondent reports, around 23 pm people begin to gather near the church. Representatives of the community of the UOC are taking shifts day and night in the church, guarding it from seizure.
Interfaith confrontation in the village of Ptichya of the Dubno district, Rovno region, has lasted since November 2014. Attempts to seize the temple and block it by representatives of the Kiev Patriarchate and the "Right Sector" members were often accompanied by beatings of UOC believers.
Despite the discussion of this situation with the OSCE representatives and 5 court decisions on this case, which confirm the community's right to the temple building, since 2015 the faithful of the Holy Assumption parish of the village of Ptichya have not had the opportunity to perform services in their church. And on Monday, April 2, the UOC community received an official court order to lift the arrest from the church.
