OCU raiders seize UOC temple and beat a woman in Pyrohivtsi
On July 24, 2022, OCU activists, together with the head of the Khmelnitsky District Council, Alexander Cherniyevich, came to the church of St. Paraskeva Piatnitsa in Pyrohiivtsi village, Khmelnytsky district, to seize it and hand it over to the schismatics. This was announced by an employee of the Khmelnytsky City Council Vladimir Pekarsky on his Facebook page.
Authorities and aggressive activists of the OCU first threatened the believers of the UOC and then staged a brawl, trying to break inside. They tore off the handle of the door and beat several parishioners of the temple, as a result of which one of them, Ioanna Kravets, had to be taken to the emergency room.
According to Victoria Kokhanovskaya, the policemen present at the scene were inactive, and then they sealed the temple.
“There was the police and the investigative team and a lot of hubbub. By joint efforts, people entered the temple, but after consultations with the police, the temple was closed and sealed,” the official Pekarsky described the incident.
Parishioners of the UOC intend to defend their rights in court.
As the UOJ wrote, in Peskovka, Bucha district, OCU raiders welded up the doors of the UOC temple at night.
Read also
Bp. Theodosius: Ukraine's Authorities Classify Icons as Works of Art and Relics as Mummies
ROCOR hierarch links current policies toward holy sites and clergy to Soviet-era repression, calls for prayer and respect for religious freedom.
Society of St. John's Day of Action Gives Hope Persecution of UOC May Subside, Analyst Says
Political scientist says congressional outreach and high-level U.S. statements signal possible shift in response to persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Catholic Host of 'Roots of Orthodoxy' Says Orthodox Apologists are 'Disgusting', 'Trash'
"You Orthodox apologists are absolutely freaking disgusting," Cabada said. "You're a disgusting human being. You're trash. I'm not scared to say that."
Rep. Bacon: 'I Don't Think the UOC Takes Orders from Russia'
Earlier this week, the congressman rejected an opportunity for dialogue with members of the Society of St. John who visited his office despite them holding the same viewpoint.
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.