Parishioners Say OCU-Held Church Used for Clothing Storage

Photo: The First Cossack/Telegram video screenshot

KORSUN-SHEVCHENKIVSKYI, UKRAINE — The Church of the Savior Not Made by Hands in Ukraine, seized by supporters of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), is reportedly being used as a clothing warehouse, according to local outlet The First Cossack.

Parishioners who continue to gather outside the church say the lower level of the church has been converted into storage space. Bags and boxes of clothing are stacked directly in front of the iconostasis, and sacred items, including icons and the altar area, are reportedly covered with stored goods.

The seizure occurred more than 20 months ago, and since then no divine services have been celebrated in the building. Faithful of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) continue to pray at the walls of the church, stating that the premises have lost their liturgical purpose and calling for the return of the shrine to its religious community.

Previously, the UOJ reported that there was widespread destruction of religious heritage in Ukraine. 

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