In Cherkasy, radicals vandalize the territory of UOC Cathedral
Metropolitan Theodosiy stated that this provocation was orchestrated with an SBU curator.
On May 4, in Cherkasy, unknown individuals wearing balaclavas vandalized the territory of the St. Michael's Cathedral of the UOC with provocative graffiti and posters on the walls of the Orthodox shrine, reported Suspilne.
Radicals affixed posters depicting Patriarch Kirill of the ROC to the fence near the church, while on the asphalt, they painted slogans such as "UOC = FSB" and "Is it pleasant to consecrate Easter cakes in the FSB cell?" and similar phrases.
Moreover, they expressed outrage that parishioners attempted to intervene:
"Their reaction was obvious, as always. We don't come to such actions to loot or to harm anyone. We come to show our civic position, but they try to do everything to provoke us, at least into some administrative violation, to show that we are bad. But it doesn't work for them," the activist was quoted as saying.
UOC priests called the police, who took down all the statements. It is not yet known whether a criminal case will be initiated regarding this incident.
Metropolitan Theodosiy of Cherkasy and Kaniv commented on the situation:
"This is a deliberate provocation with the involvement of the SBU curator, Public Television, and a group of provocateurs. Today, on the eve of the Easter holiday, they vandalized the territory of the cathedral with blasphemous inscriptions, and not only here. I know that the same thing happened today at the Motrona Monastery," said the bishop.
As reported by the UOJ, on April 25, several provocateurs staged another "action" near the cathedral in Cherkasy.
