Bishop Nathanael visits community of the seized temple in Berestechko
The ruling bishop of the Volyn Eparchy arrived in the town of Berestechko to prayerfully support the faithful of the seized church and wished steadfastness in faith.
On June 30, 2019, Bishop Nathanael of Volyn and Lutsk performed a Divine Liturgy in the home church of the Holy Trinity community of the town of Berestechko, reports the press service of the eparchy.
“Almost five months has passed since those terrible events when not only the locks but also the doors were cut. But the Christian spirit turned out to be indestructible because the Power of God is not in the majestic walls of temples and cathedrals but in love for our neighbours and constant prayer, both for friends and persecutors,” the message says.
The rector of the community and dean of the Berestechko Deanery, Archpriest Dmitry Petrushak, continues his priestly ministry, despite the trials.
Having examined the home church, the archpastor addressed the parishioners with the word of consolation and homily, comparing the present time of trials with the persecutions that the Orthodox Church has been facing throughout history. Vladyka noted that many persecutors thought that they would cope with Christians but did not know that it was God, who is in every Christian heart, they were persecuting, not people. But God cannot be defeated.
Bishop Nathanael blessed all those present and said that we must always remember that God is with us, truth and love are with us, therefore true Christian faith will always be with us.
The rector and parishioners expressed gratitude for the wise words of support from the archpastor and asked to always remember the Holy Trinity community in their prayers.
As reported, the UOC religious community of the Holy Trinity Cathedral in the Volyn town of Berestechko met Easter in a new chapel, which it built for three months instead of the church that had been taken over by the OCU.
The rector and the believers built a small temple in the courtyard of the private house of the priest in the neighbouring village of Stariki.
On February 10, 2019, the community of the Holy Trinity Cathedral of the UOC of the town of Berestechko, Volyn region, gathered for the liturgy outside its church for the first time.
On the same day, the “hierarch” of the UOC KP Mikhail Zinkevich presented a new “rector” at the seized Holy Trinity Cathedral.
As the UOJ reported, Bishop Nathanael prayerfully supports and takes care of the believers of the seized temples. The other day, Vladyka visited the community of the village of Peski, whose temple was also taken away.
