Khmelnytskyi Eparchy comments on seizure of the church in Pylypy

Church in the village of Pylypy. Photo: Khmelnytskyi Eparchy of the UOC

On July 16, authorities and supporters of the OCU forcibly seized the St. Nicholas Church in the village of Pylypy, Khmelnytskyi district (Krasyliv deanery), reports the Khmelnytskyi Eparchy.

The seizure of the church was overseen by A. Chernievych, a deputy of the Khmelnytskyi district council, V. Polishchuk, the head of the village of Pylypy, S. Bobukh, N. Svystun, Y. Babiychuk, and other OCU supporters among the authorities.

The religious community, together with their rector, Archpriest Valentyn Savchuk, remains fully within the Ukrainian Orthodox Church under the leadership of its Primate, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine.

"The liturgical life of the community continues. On Sunday, July 21, 2024, the Divine Liturgy will be celebrated in a room repurposed for a church, located next to the seized one," the diocese's press service reported.

As reported by the UOJ, in May 2024, OCU supporters announced the seizure of churches in the town of Krasyliv and the village of Pylypy. However, at that time, the UOC religious community managed to defend their shrine.

Read also

Orthodox and Catholic bishops make joint visit to Mount Athos

The head of the Phanar blessed a joint pilgrimage to Mount Athos by Roman Catholic and Orthodox bishops.

UOC Kryvyi Rih Eparchy marks 30th anniversary

Metropolitan Yefrem led the anniversary Divine Liturgy in Kryvyi Rih.

Ostapenko: Everyone in UCCRO feels fine except the “FSB UOC”

The director of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve called the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches “a wonderful organization.”

Khmelnytskyi Eparchy donates funds for treatment of 12-year-old girl

UOC believers raised UAH 20,000 for Anastasiia Mamchur as part of an eparchial charity campaign.

Shevchuk: We had to convince world UOC ban does not violate religious freedom

The UGCC head claims that by banning the UOC, the state is not violating religious freedom but merely protecting the Church’s faithful from Moscow propaganda.

Lavra reserve head estimates damage to Dormition Cathedral at €15 million

Maksym Ostapenko said restoring the Dormition Cathedral would take at least a couple of years and require major funding.