Parishioners defend Archbishop Varsonofy from attack of OCU cleric

In the village of Makhnovka, the “priest” Viktor Bodnar attempted to attack Vladyka

On April 10, after the Divine Liturgy in the temple of the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God, Archbishop Varsonofy of Vinnitsa and Bar visited parishes in the villages of Gurovtsy and Makhnovka of the Kazatin district, Vinnitsa region, where believers of the canonical Church are deprived of the opportunity to hold services in their own temples.

In Gurovtsy, OCU activists locked and sealed the temple back in January. According to the press service of the Vinnitsa Eparchy, the believers of the village warmly greeted the archpastor with the accompanying clergy and took part in a prayer service held by the ruling bishop at the worship cross in the churchyard.

In Makhnovka, the atmosphere was far from being so calm. The local church was transferred to the OCU on the initiative of the former UOC priest Viktor Bodnar, who was subsequently banned from priesthood for falling into schism.

Supporters of the new church structure in Makhnovka greeted the archpastor with shouts and noise. The activists in a harsh manner tried to hinder the service. After a brief conversation with the OCU adherents, Archbishop Varsonofy began to serve a prayer, during which the “priest” Viktor Bodnar attempted to attack the bishop. He was stopped by believers who defended the archbishop and did not allow further provocations.

Archbishop Varsonofy of Vinnitsa and Bar reported the attack to the enforcement agencies.

As the UOJ reported, on the eve of the Annunciation Day, UOC believers defended their church in the village of Voronovitsa, Vinnitsa region.

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