Cherkasy, Cherkasy Province, Ukraine, November 21, 2023
Fr. Sergei Paschenko suffered a broken jaw during the violent seizure. Photo: spzh.news
Following an attempt to seize the Nativity of the Theotokos Convent in Cherkasy last week, the violent schismatics of the Patriarchate of Constantinople’s “Orthodox Church of Ukraine” returned to finish the job yesterday.
Over the weekend, the nuns, clergy, and parishioners of the monastery unanimously voted to remain Orthodox, under His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine—in contrast to the fake “vote” of the schismatics on August 10 that was used to produce new registration documents for the monastery property.
But despite the monastery’s fidelity to holy Orthodoxy, schismatics returned yesterday, November 20, in another attempt to seize the holy habitation.
Photo: spzh.news
More than 50 military men and civilians initially gathered down the street from the monastery, the diocese reported. Finally, there were about 150 men who had shown up to terrorized the nuns. The diocesan website called on the faithful to come in prayerful defense.
According to OCU tradition, a priest, Fr. Sergei Paschenko was physically attacked, ending up with a broken jaw, while law enforcement simply watched.
At least four Orthodox Christians were injured, including Fr. Sergei and Deacon Sergei Isaenko. Another man suffered a broken leg. The raiders also severely beat and seized the phones of anyone who attempted to film the attack.
People in military uniform, claiming to be part of the National Corps, even blocked the hospital in Cherkasy where the faithful were taken for treatment.
Having seized the monastery, the schismatics threw the nuns and monastery property out into the street. They also broke a number of windows and doors. His Eminence Archbishop John of Zolotonosha, the diocesan vicar who lives at the monastery, was threatened, with the activists demanding money.
Recall that the ruling hierarch of the Cherkasy Diocese, His Eminence Metropolitan Theodosy, is among the hierarchs who are being personally persecuted by the state. He has been under house arrest already since April, and was ordered on November 2 to remain for at least another two months.
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