An attacker sets fire to a UOC church in Volyn

On the morning of September 26, 2024, an attacker set fire to the Holy Protection Church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the village of Stari Koshary, Kovel district, Volyn region. The temple was built by the local community of the UOC to replace the one taken away in 2019 by representatives of the OCU. This is reported by the official website of the Volodymyr-Volyn Diocese of the UOC.

“On September 26, in the morning, an arson attack was committed on the church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church community in honor of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the village of Stari Koshary in the Kovel region. The religious community is building this church after the seizure of the church in honor of the Apostle John the Theologian by supporters of the OCU on Holy Wednesday, 2019. The arson was reported by the rector of the community, Archpriest Andriy Khomych. The arson suspect had been threatening the priest and members of the UOC community for a long time. The threats were reported to the police with appropriate evidence,” — the statement said.

It should be noted that the described case, unfortunately, is not the first for the Volyn region. Earlier, the Volodymyr-Volyn Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church reported an illegal entry and arson of two buildings of the monastery complex in honor of the Nativity of John the Baptist in the village of Verbka, Volyn region.