In Kyiv region, representatives of the PCU seized a church of the canonical UOC

Representatives of the schismatic structure Orthodox Church of Ukraine(OCU) have seized the Holy Trinity church of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) in Kiev Region. This was reported on December 18 by the Union of Orthodox Journalists with reference to the rector of the parish Archpriest Ioan Omelchuk.

It is noted that the cutting of locks and the seizure of the temple took place accompanied by law enforcement agencies. According to Omelchuk, this event is "symbolic" because of the memorial day of St. Nicholas of Myra, the Wonderworker, which the faithful celebrate on Thursday, December 19.

"Tomorrow (December 19. - Ed.) the service will be held in the Sunday school premises. Further is not yet known. I ask on behalf of our parishioners and myself personally holy prayers," he wrote in the social network Facebook (owned by the recognized extremist company Meta, its activities are banned in Russia).

Earlier, on November 6, a source in the Verkhovna Rada told Izvestia that the schismatic PCU intends to seize all the shrines of the UOC. He noted that the PCU will not have enough priests to work in all the seized churches due to the lack of so many people. The interlocutor added that it will not be possible to completely eradicate the UOC.

Kiev's persecution of the canonical UOC of the Moscow Patriarchate began back in 2022: criminal cases were brought against clergy and monks, they were expelled from churches, which were seized by unknown people in military uniforms and supporters of the PCU. Temples, churches and even the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra were subjected to searches. Believers tried to defend the temples, the seizure of which was almost always accompanied by violence, and went out to rallies.

In September 2024, a law officially came into force in Ukraine banning the activities of the UOCU on the territory of the country.