22 new churches of UOC built in 2021 to replace those seized by OCU
A church dome. Photo: interfax.com.ua
More than two dozen churches of the UOC were built in Ukraine in a year to make up for the seized by the OCU, 18 of the new churches have already been consecrated, reports the UOC Information and Education Department.
These data were announced at the final meeting of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Also, the Synod participants noted a decrease in the number of raider seizures of UOC churches – in 2021, seven such cases were recorded. At the same time, there were 20 cases of robberies of churches and four acts of vandalism during the year.
A number of anti-constitutional statements by representatives of local authorities and calls for refusal to attend churches of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church are also noted. Among the negative events of the year, the Synod of the UOC noted several actions against the construction of new churches of the UOC in those "hot spots" where they had been previously seized by schismatics.
As previously reported, the UOC Synod summed up the results and named the landmark events of 2021.
Read also
ROCOR Priest Reflects on Trip to Capitol Hill
Archpriest Victor Boldewskul participated in the Society of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco's Day of Action to raise awareness about the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Hundreds of Chinese Christians Arrested in Pre-Christmas Crackdown
Hundreds of Chinese Christians face spending Christmas in detention after authorities launched a sweeping pre-holiday crackdown on churches under Beijing’s campaign to control religious life.
Ukraine Adviser: UOC Not Banned, but Offered a 'Choice' of Jurisdictions
A Ukrainian presidential adviser said the UOC is not banned but pressured to choose between joining the OCU, submitting to Constantinople, or remaining unregistered, while dismissing international concerns as propaganda.
Indiana Reports 98% Drop in Abortions Under Stricter Law
Indiana’s latest health report shows a 98% drop in reported abortions under stricter laws, though dozens still occurred under legal exceptions and concerns persist about unreported pill abortions.
Armenian Apostolic Church Pushes Back on Political Encroachment
The Armenian Apostolic Church plans to appeal to international bodies to resist government interference and defend its clergy and sacred relics.
Attempted Takeover at Armenian Etchmiadzin Cathedral Thwarted by Faithful
Supporters of Armenian PM Pashinyan attempted to storm Etchmiadzin Cathedral amid calls for the Catholicos’s resignation but were blocked by parishioners and security.