Earlier, we reported that the St. Basil’s religious community of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the village of Pidzakharychi, Chernivtsi region, recorded an appeal addressed to the US government and US Vice President Jay Vance, asking them to influence the situation with the upcoming seizure of the local church by representatives of the OCU. The rector and parishioners point out that on their behalf, a so-called territorial meeting was held in the local house of culture, attended by about 60 people who voted for the “transfer” of St. Basil’s Church of the UOC to the OCU, while the community members of the canonical Church number more than 170, but their position is not taken into account.
In Bukovyna, UOC believers of Storozhynets district appeal for help to the governments of the United States and Romania
The arbitrariness of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Bukovyna, which is the fault of local authorities and supporters of the OCU, forces the faithful of the canonical Church to seek help from foreign governments. This time, the clergy and believers of the entire Storozhynets district of the Chernivtsi region turned to the governments of the United States and Romania for help. In letters sent to the US Embassy and the Romanian Consulate General, the UOC believers spoke about the plight of the Church in the region due to the raider actions of local authorities and the OCU and the complete inaction of law enforcement agencies in this regard. This is reported by First Cossack.
“They (supporters of the OCU – ed.) spread calls aimed at discrediting religious communities, offend the religious feelings of believers and try to create conditions under which parishioners will be deprived of the opportunity to worship in their churches,” – the letter says.
The believers noted that in parallel with the seizures of UOC churches, representatives of the OCU are conducting a discrediting campaign in educational institutions and state institutions, harassing and intimidating citizens who are parishioners of the churches of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
“State institutions, schools and kindergartens openly pursue a policy that explicitly prohibits visits to churches of our religious parishes. Employees are intimidated with dismissal, demanded to support the seizure of churches, threatening to fire those who disagree with their position or resist, which is a gross violation of labor rights and freedom of conscience,” – the letter says.
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