Earlier, we reported that the largest Greek church media Romfea and The Orthodox Times published materials on the unsuccessful attempt to seize the Holy Spirit Cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Chernivtsi by supporters of the OCU. The authors of the publications do not hide their shock at the event and call on Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople to finally intervene in the “shameful situation” taking place in Ukrainian Orthodoxy.
Romfea published an article about how Ukrainian authorities and special services are obstructing the Cross Procession of UOC believers to Pochaiv
The largest Greek church publication, Romfea, published an article about the procession of believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church from Kamianets-Podilskyi to the Holy Dormition Pochaiv Lavra. The publication described how the Ukrainian government and special services annually oppose this event, but believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, despite the pressure, travel more than 200 kilometers every year to celebrate the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God at the Pochaiv Lavra. The article was published on the Romfea.gr website.
“In 2024, the SBU and the police tried to prevent the pilgrims from marching by blocking roads and prohibiting overnight stays in local towns and villages. Despite this, more than 20,000 believers of the Ukrainian Church took part in the multi-day litany. And this year, as photos and videos show, the participation was just as massive. In particular, hundreds of believers greeted the pilgrims at the Pochaiv Lavra, kneeling before the icons and crosses carried by the participants of the Cross Procession. It should be noted that, as last year, the authorities tried to obstruct the event,” – the publication emphasizes.
In addition, Romfea drew attention to the fact that young men and priests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church are under particular pressure. The publication noted that on the way to the Pochaiv Lavra, they are subjected to forced mobilization by employees of the territorial recruitment centers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
“The relevant videos show that mainly women and elderly men took part in the procession, as men of draft age are often subjected to brutal treatment during services and events of the Ukrainian Church. On August 25, local authorities even forcibly mobilized clergy of the Ukrainian Church who had arrived at the Pochaiv Lavra with pilgrims. On the same day, Archpriest Bogdan Matvienko, a clergyman of the Kremenchug Diocese of the Ukrainian Church, was forcibly drafted into the army, despite the fact that he is the father of five children, one of whom is already fighting on the front lines. This priest was sent to a training camp in Rivne, and his wife is asking for prayers and legal support,” – the media added.
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