UOC Parish in Novi Vorob'i Reports Church Closure Amid Dispute
A parish in Zhytomyr region says it has been locked out of its church amid an escalating jurisdictional dispute.
NOVI VOROB'I, UKRAINE — According to the Telegram channel Dozor, parishioners of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) in the village of Novi Vorob'i, Zhytomyr region say they have been denied access to their church following an incident on May 30 that they describe as a seizure of the parish by supporters of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU).
The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary was sealed, preventing parishioners from entering the building. The reports allege that plans are underway to hold a parish meeting aimed at re-registering the community under the OCU, although no date for such a meeting has been publicly announced.
The incident reportedly occurred shortly after the mobilization of the parish's abbot, Hieromonk Ilia. Church sources claim that OCU representatives had previously warned of plans to take control of the parish. They further allege that three OCU clerics arrived in the village, conducted a ceremony outside the church, and demanded that parishioners surrender the church keys.
According to those accounts, parishioners refused the request. Sources also stated that the village headman, who was present during the dispute, urged all parties to act in accordance with the law and pursue a peaceful resolution. Church representatives have expressed concern that future efforts could be made to transfer the parish to another jurisdiction through administrative procedures that they contend would not reflect the will of the congregation.
Previously, the UOJ reported that Holy Trinity Church in Ukraine was set for an OCU takeover after Pentecost.
