Persecuted Parish of the UOC is Now Holding Services in a Construction Trailer

The current worship space for the UOC's Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos parish. Photo: Dozor

NOVOSILKY — On Tuesday, the Orthodox residents of the village of Novosilky in the Kyiv region prayed for the first time in a converted construction trailer. As reported by the Telegram channel Dozor, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) parish in honor of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos has finally received the opportunity to hold services under a roof.

This became possible thanks to the help of caring Orthodox Christians.

“The long-suffering UOC parish in Novosilky endured the brutal seizure of its church by [Orthodox Church of Ukraine] raiders and the arson of its prayer house, which was completely destroyed by fire. Yet the Orthodox Christians do not give up — they continue to restore their liturgical life again and again,” the message reads. Dozor also called on the faithful to help the community purchase the necessary liturgical items.

Details for financial assistance are available at this link.

As UOJ-Ukraine previously reported, in October 2024, a group of OCU raiders violently seized the UOC church after falsifying documents and, under the direction of Uniate cleric Medynskyi, broke into the sanctuary.

After the seizure, the followers of Sergiy "Epiphany" Dumenko threw out icons and liturgical books, mixing them with trash. Later, unknown individuals again entered the private property where the UOC parishioners had been gathering for prayer following the takeover. The attackers smashed the veranda windows and tore up carpets — then eventually set fire to the makeshift place of worship of the persecuted community.

Previously, UOJ reported that a Ukrainian mayor said that the UOC only "temporarily" occupies churches, and that the authorities have not "finished the job."

Read also