Netishyn, Khmelnitsky Province, Ukraine, June 21, 2023
Photo: news.church.ua
Clergy and faithful from the Shepetivka Diocese of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church managed to defend their church from being violently seized by the schismatics of the Patriarchate of Constantinople’s “Orthodox Church of Ukraine” over the weekend.
On Saturday, June 17, a group of schismatics came to the Church of the Burning Bush Icon of the Mother of God in Netishyn, Khmelnitsky Province, demanding that the clergy and parishioners leave the Orthodox Church and join their structure.
However, the faithful gathered in prayer and then went out to protect their beloved church, reports the Information-Education Department of the canonical UOC.
The rector, Archpriest Viktor Tishkun, ably answered all the schismatics’ questions. Seeing that the faithful of the parish were completely united in their intention to remain Orthodox, the provocateurs were forced to leave the territory of the church.
The rector and clergy of the cathedral expressed their sincere gratitude to all members of the religious community of the church for protecting the Orthodox faith and defending their legal rights to remain in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and to the law enforcement agencies of the city of Netishyn for ensuring law and order during these events.
However, the schismatics continue their violent and angry seizures all across the country. Yesterday, they managed to break into and seize the Holy Dormition Church in the village of Uladovka, Vinnitsa Province, while police and State Security Service officers stood idly by.
Follow OrthoChristian on Twitter, Vkontakte, Telegram, WhatsApp, MeWe, and Gab!
