Zoria holds a "bishop's divine service" in seized UOC church in Pryputni
Zoria's "Bishop's Divine Service" in Pryputni. Photo: facebook.com/yevstr
On April 17, 2021, the spokesman of the OCU Eustratiy Zoria held a "bishop's service" in the UOC church in Pryputni, the Ichnia OTG of the Chernihiv region, seized by supporters of his structure.
On his Facebook page, Zoria said that he had arrived at the church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in Pryputni at the invitation of "Archimandrite" Leonty Pustovoit and the religious community.
Zoria said that the majority of representatives of the religious community spoke in favor of the “transition” of the temple in Pryputni. However, judging by the photographs published by him, there are very few people at the "divine service", especially given the fact that the spokesman of the OCU brought along a "miraculous" icon to Pryputni.
According to Zoria, public order during the "divine service" was ensured by the National Police, and "patriotic activists, veterans of the Russian-Ukrainian war" arrived to "support the community" which "passed from Russian jurisdiction to the local OCU".
Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the Holy Nativity of the Theotokos church of the UOC in the village of Pryputni had been repeatedly raided by supporters of the OCU. During one of them, in September 2019, activists beat its rector, Fr. Sergiy, and a parishioner who had to be hospitalized. Then the believers of the UOC managed to defend their shrine and continued to pray in their church.
On April 4, 2021, nationalists from the Svoboda Party organized the seizure of the Holy Nativity of the Theotokos church of the UOC in the village of Pryputni, Chernihiv region: at night the raiders cut off the locks on the temple and installed their own. Later in the afternoon, with the informational support of Channel 5 and with the police inaction, they entered the church.
The religious community of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which until April 4, 2021, prayed in the temple of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the village of Pryputni, Chernihiv region, numbers about 500 people against 37 activists, who voted for the "transfer" of the church to the OCU.
Read also
Petition Warns Canada’s Hate Speech Law Could Criminalize Scripture
Thousands of Canadians have signed a petition urging the Liberal government to drop proposed hate-speech changes that critics warn could criminalize quoting the Bible and other religious texts.
JD Vance: Criticizing Israel Is Not Antisemitism
Vice President JD Vance said opposing Israeli policies is not the same as antisemitism, sparking debate over where criticism of Israel ends and hatred of Jews begins.
First Orthodox Prayer Book Published in Indonesian Language
The first Orthodox prayer book in Indonesian has been published and presented in Bekasi, providing local faithful and new converts with a vital resource for prayer and liturgical life.
OCA Joins Legal Challenge to Illinois Abortion Referral Law
Amicus brief argues mandate violates religious freedom and compels pro-life providers to contradict their faith.
EXCLUSIVE: Leaked Ukrainian Memo Says Religious Freedom is ‘Achilles Heel’
In an emergency strategy meeting held in response to the Society of St. John's Day of Action, D.C.-based Ukrainian lobbyists acknowledged the weight of the religious freedom issue as it pertains to the Ukrainian government’s public perception.
Historic $2.9 Million Bequest Strengthens Greek Orthodox Foundation
The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago Foundation has received a record $2.9 million bequest from the late Andy Efthim, a devoted layman whose faith-filled generosity will support the Church’s mission for generations.