Kiev Province, Ukraine, May 17, 2023
A scene from the seizure of Sts. Peter and Paul Church in the village of Petropavlovsk. Photo: news.church.ua
Two churches in the Kiev Province were violently seized by schismatics on Saturday, May 13.
During at least one of the seizures, the radicals of the Patriarchate of Constantinople’s “Orthodox Church of Ukraine” physically assaulted and injured a number of parishioners.
At least one parishioner suffered “grave bodily harm” during the attack on the Church of Sts. Peter and Paul in the village of Petropavlovsk, reports the Information-Education Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
The raiders also physically assaulted and prevented the canonical priest, Fr. Vasily Brynzei from getting to the church to protect it. The schismatics eventually managed to break down the doors of the church. When a group of parishioners tried to defend the church, they were also physically attacked and several were injured.
A case on the illegal re-registration of the church is still being considered in court. The schismatics are also attempting to take away the house from the priest’s family, which includes four small children.
The same day, the Holy Transfiguration Church in the village of Ivankov was also violently seized.
The schismatics have been trying to seize this church for over a year. On June 5 last year, an illegal decision was made by people unconnected to the church to transfer it to the OCU. At the same time, the faithful declared their loyalty to Orthodoxy. Since then, a trial has been underway to decide the jurisdiction.
According to locals, the seizure was initiated by the local district chairman and transpired without any police interference.
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