In Donetsk region, for the first time, a former cleric of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (in unity with the Moscow Patriarchate) moved to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
This is Father Pavlo Shevkalenko. That’s according to OCU Metropolitan Serhiy of Donetsk and Mariupol, Vchasno reports.
By decree of Metropolitan, Archpriest Pavlo was included in the staff of clerics of the Donetsk Diocese of the OCU. He was appointed full-time priest of the temple in Novohrodivka.
“Father Pavlo made the right decision and chose the canonical Church that prays for its Ukrainian people and its Army. Undoubtedly, his former leadership and ‘priest brothers’ will be intimidating him in various ways, but he and his spouse took a smart step and entered the family of the canonical, autocephalous, local Orthodox Church,” says Metropolitan Serhiy.
Before the full-scale invasion in Donetsk region, there were 136 parishes of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. During the war, the Ukrainian church remains close to its believers. Over the year of the full-scale invasion in Donetsk region, the OCU Diocese provided the Armed Forces of Ukraine, wounded fighters, and the needy with about UAH 100 million hryvnias in aid.
