UOC temples desecrated and robbed in Zhitomir region on Annunciation Day
The parishioner who first came to the temple to prepare it for the festive Divine service found the St. Nicholas Church desecrated and robbed.
On the night of April 7, 2019, on the feast of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos, in the village of Korolevka of the Emilchino district, Zhitomir region, unknown persons broke a window and entered the altar of the St. Nicholas Church, reports the UOC Information and Education Department.
“When I arrived, I found a huge mess in the altar – the glass from the broken window through which the robbers got into the church, turning everything upside down: the books on the choir were scattered, the boxes were opened – they found and took away some money, stole wine for the Eucharist, two lances, an apostle,” said the cleric of the Ovruch Eparchy, rector Alexander Garashchuk.
The parishioners immediately called law enforcers who conducted investigative actions and received a statement from the rector.
“This day more people came than usual. They had to wait for an hour and a half or two until the police made all the arrangements and we cleaned up. Nevertheless, we served the Liturgy and thanksgiving prayer ..." aid the rector, noting that the believers were extremely upset by the blasphemy that the unknown vandals made to their church on this great for the entire Orthodox world feast.
As the UOJ reported, on the night of March 29, 2019, unknown persons broke into the Church of the Holy First Apostles Peter and Paul of the Borispol Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the town of Bucha, Kiev region — even the throne and the Icon of the Mother of God "Quick to Hearken" were attacked by thieves-vandals.
