Chernivtsi, Ukraine, April 10, 2023
Photo: news.church.ua
A hierarch of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church was physically assaulted last night at about 10:00 PM.
The attack against His Grace Bishop Nikita of Ivano-Frankivsk, which occurred outside the Chernivtsi diocesan administration building, was caught on camera:
A man in a red Mazda at first slowly drove by the bishop and his subdeacons, but then turned back. “The attacker recognized the bishop,” the Chernivtsi Diocese reports.
The man stopped his car, got out, and punched Bp. Nikita in the face. He then attacked one of the subdeacons, whose father and brother are currently serving in the Ukrainian army.
The attacker said he wasn’t worried about the authorities being called, claiming he knows everyone in the Ukrainian Security Services.
While witnesses waited for police to arrive, the attacker moved his license plates and put them in his trunk, though the numbers were already recorded on video.
The diocese concludes:
The most shameful thing is that after the arrival of the patrol police, the attacker continued to threaten violence and again started a fight.
HE WAS NOT ARRESTED
Anyone who leaves or returns from the church can become a victim in modern Ukraine today.
Follow OrthoChristian on Twitter, Vkontakte, Telegram, WhatsApp, MeWe, and Gab!
