Department for External Church Relations
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Schismatics' outrages continue in Ternopol region in Ukraine
In the evening of 27 July 2017, representatives of the so called Kievan Patriarchate tried to get into a house in the village of Kotiuzhiny, Ternopol region, Ukraine. The community of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate celebrates divine services in this house after the seizure of their church by schismatic.
According to Archpriest Alexander Kantitsky, rector of St. Stephen the First Martyr church, the police which he called warned the trespassers of criminal responsibility, and the forced entry was prevented.
As the building was sealed till 05.00 p.m. of the next day, the festive divine service of the Day of the Baptism of Russia could not be celebrated.
Father Kantisky said that at talks on July 28 the raiders had demanded to withdraw lawsuits against the Kievan Patriarchate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
The religious community of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC MP) proposed to portion out the building: a room and a kitchen to be given to the Kievan Patriarchate and a room for divine services – to the community, but representatives of the Kievan Patriarchate did not agree. “They demand that I should terminate registration at this house and promise that after that we will celebrate without any hindrance. It is crystal clear that they want to drive us out.
The illegal seizure of the church in the village of Kotiuzhiny is being reviewed in several courts. Father Alexander was assaulted in one of them.
According to the UOC MP information and education department, the claim of St. Stephen church had to be considered on 27 July 2017, but schismatics did not appear in court.
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