Head of Ovruch Eparchy turns to police over threats to priests
Met. Vissarion of Ovruch and Korosten wrote an open letter to the region authorities regarding the illegal seizure of liturgical literature and threats to UOC priests.
On April 14, 2022, Metropolitan Vissarion of Ovruch and Korosten sent an open letter to the chairman of the Zhytomyr Regional Administration, the head of the Regional Department of the National Police and deputies of local councils. The text of the appeal is posted on the website of the Ovruch Eparchy.
As early as March 28, 2022, unknown persons took liturgical and church books in Church Slavonic and Russian from the administration of the Ovruch Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, taking advantage of the Metropolitan’s absence. They confiscated the literature in the presence of the police. Vladyka emphasized that the books were purchased at the request and with donations from believers.
Metropolitan Vissarion called on all those involved to repent and return the books back to the eparchial administration. He added: “These people <…> have committed an immoral sinful act that is a challenge to God and our believers.”
Vladyka said that the same actions and threats to priests were recorded in the town of Radomyshl, in the villages of Ryzhany, Pershotravneve, Irshansk, Selets, Devoshin, Nebezh, Grushki. The Metropolitan added, “They want to force the priests to go to the OCU by such actions.”
In conclusion, Vladyka recalled the words from the 2nd Epistle to the Corinthians: “ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive recompense, according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil”, and quoted the Gospel of Matthew: “God will repay each one according to his deeds."
The letter of the bishop was signed by the clergy and laity of the Ovruch Eparchy of the UOC.
The press service of the Ovruch Eparchy commented on the appeal of Metropolitan Vissarion: “We remind the local authorities who oppose the UOC: the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is administratively and financially independent; according to the Statute of the Church, people who are not members of the parish do not have the right to decide on issues of the internal way of life of the community. This is direct interference in church affairs, a violation of the Constitution of Ukraine and discrimination against believers.”
As reported, in Viazivka of the Ovruch Eparchy, the temple of the UOC was destroyed due to shelling.
