Department for External Church Relations
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Raiders in camouflage uniforms seize a church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Drabov
DECR Communication Service, 06.10.2023.
On October 4, supporters of the OCU dressed in camouflage uniforms broke down the doors and seized the Church of St. Seraphim of Sarov in the village of Drabov, Cherkassy region, Ukraine. Archpriest Dimitry Ivanusa, rector of the church, told about it to the Union of Orthodox Journalists.
He said that he had been informed about the seizure when he was at the home for the aged taking care for which is the church community. As he and his parishioners arrived at the church building, they saw some twenty OCU supporters in the territory, including people in camouflage uniforms.
Fr Dimitry added that the ‘activists’ had broken the side doors leading to the sanctuary, entered, and a non-resident ‘priest’ celebrated the ‘divine service.’
The rector stated that law enforcers had been unmoved by the seizure, ‘because the OCU representatives showed them documents on the re-registration of the community.’ Archpriest Dimitry assumes that the seizure was made not without the participation of local authorities. According to him, secretary Vladimir Miroshnik of the local self-governing body was near the church watching the raiders’ actions.
“Also, they broke down the doors to the refectory. During ten years we held children’s summer camps, and children had their meals in this refectory. As far as I know, the raiders are planning to break down the doors to the building on the church grounds that houses our Sunday school,’ the rector said.
He added that in June 2023 his community was re-registered to the OCU with no meetings whatsoever, whereas the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church held two meetings of the community at which they voted to remain faithful to their Church and to His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy.
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