Abp. Bogolep asks for prayers because of UOC temple in Uspenska

Abp. Bogolep recorded a video message in connection with the situation in the village of Uspenka. Photo: a video screen

On December 22, 2019, in the village of Uspenka of the Onufrievka district, Kirovohrad region, there was an attempted seizure of the Holy Assumption Church of the UOC, which was prevented. Archbishop Bogolep of Oleksandriya and Svitlovodsk Bogolep appealed to the leadership of the Kirovohrad RSA and Onufrievka DSA with a request to prevent the development of a religious conflict in the village, and also called on the clergy and faithful of the eparchy to prayer for peace. The video message from the head of the Oleksandriya Eparchy was published on his Facebook page by Deacon Kirill Bozhko.

The hierarch noted that in lengthy and difficult negotiations with supporters of the OCU, "unfortunately, the voice of the Church was not heard".

“We understand that possible difficulties are only beginning,” said Abp. Bogolep. “These difficulties arise mainly due to the fact that there are certain forces in our state that are constantly trying to quarrel, to separate us, to make us hostages to some template slogans. As a bishop, as the head of the Oleksandriya Eparchy, I would very much like to call all of you, our dear brothers and sisters in Christ, to pray for the Assumption Church. Through difficulties, through trials, I am sure we can find faith, we can find hope. I would very much like our pain, our difficulty not to become only ours, but to be common for our entire Church.”

The ruling bishop called on the clergy of Oleksandriya Eparchy to stand in prayer and also appealed to all Orthodox Christians with a request "to respond and be partial to the situation, which, unfortunately, is unfolding in this small Dnieper village".

He emphasized that the religious community of the Holy Assumption Church of the UOC has all the necessary documents to the church and the title right to the land, but this does not stop the adherents of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and “unfortunately, there is a misunderstanding, there are many lies, much untruth which сauses rejection with some of the Uspenka villagers and confrontation. We all need peace, we don’t need conflicts, we all need prayer!”

“I ask all those in a position, both in the government and in the relevant law enforcement agencies and departments, to take appropriate action and I ask my statement be considered official so that here, in Uspenka, there is no conflict on religious grounds. I appeal to the governor, the head of the district, to everyone who is not indifferent to the situation in our country,” the hierarch said and asked the believers to pray “so that the Lord will grant us faith, give us strength, give us reason and wisdom to resist all that destroys our souls and opposes our salvation."

As reported by the UOJ, on December 22, 2019, in the village of Uspenka, supporters of the OCU were going to hold a meeting of a false “community” of the UOC church in order to seize it. It is known that the meeting was initiated by deputy assistant Anatoly Yakovenko with his wife Antonina and local activist Lydia Dudenko, who collected signatures from the “necessary” villagers.

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