The Russian-appointed “authorities” in the occupied part of Zaporizhia region have seized a church run by the OCU, handing it over to the Russian Orthodox Church’s branch (UOC-MP).
The abbot of the Holy Intercession Church of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Archpriest Roman Sadovyi (Vasylivka, Zaporizhia region) reported the seizure on Sunday evening on his Facebook page:
“I, as the abbot of the Holy Intercession Church of the OCU in Vasylivka, was informed that the so-called mayor Nataliya Romanichenko handed the church to Fr. Anatoly Zyhar (archpriest of the UOC of the Moscow Patriarchate). In turn, the ‘newly appointed abbot’ decided to remove the church property from the temple, thereby violating the commandments of Christ,” the priest said.
He urged the parishioners not to believe a sham abbot or a pseudo-mayor as to the alleged “appointment” of a new church head.
“I am the abbot of the Holy Intercession Church, Archpriest Roman Sadovyi; moreover, the ruling hierarch, Bishop Fotius of Zaporizhia and Melitopol, did not appoint a new abbot, and we did not instruct anything to be taken out of the church. We believe that the God will preserve our Holy Intercession Temple, and ‘sham priests’ will be prosecuted in line with the Ukrainian law and punished by the court of God! Glory to Jesus Christ!!! Glory to Ukraine!!! Glory to the Armed Forces!!!” concluded the priest.
It is worth noting that the diocese of the UOC MP in Zaporizhia did not support the council held in Feofania and decided to remain part of the Russian Orthodox Church.
