Cherkasy, Cherkasy Province, Ukraine, October 1, 2024
Photo: livejournal.com
The Orthodox faithful of Cherkasy in central Ukraine responded to the call to come defend their cathedral from violent seizure on Sunday night.
“Right now, people in camouflage are gathering near our CATHEDRAL to capture it. Come to protect our holy site!!!” the diocese called. The faithful responded, gathering outside the cathedral in prayer. In particular, they read the Akathist to the Archangel Michael, the cathedral patron.
Yesterday morning, the diocese published a video from His Eminence Metropolitan Theodosy of Cherkasy, thanking those who defended their church.
Camouflaged men gathered at the church in groups of 20-30 but were unable to attack the church thanks to the Orthodox faithful.
“I thank each of you for your prayers, for not sleeping today, standing in the cold, praying, for asking the Mother of God and the Venerable Martyr Makary [the patron of Cherkasy, whose relics lie in the cathedral—OC] to protect us. Thank you for not only loving your church but also being ready to defend it if necessary,” His Eminence said.
Later on Sunday, documents were published showing that, according to the usual scheme, the schismatics of the “Orthodox Church of Ukraine” registered falsified documents to attempt to build a “legal” foundation for their seizure of the church.
Mayor Anatoly Bonarenko of Cherkasy openly supports the attacks on the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church and its cathedral. According to a court ruling in March, the UOC was already deprived of the land around the cathedral.
Earlier this month, the Holy Dormition Cathedral in Kanev, also in the Cherkasy Province, was seized from the Orthodox Church by court order.
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