In Luh, Transcarpathia, activists attempting to raid UOC church

OCU activists in the village of Luh. Photo: a screenshot of Fr. Volodymyr Lehach’s Facebook page

On September 2, 2023, in the village of Luh in the Rakhiv district of Transcarpathia, OCU activists, Greek Catholics and representatives of other denominations attempted to take control of the Holy Spirit Church of the UOC, reports a UOJ correspondent.

Several dozen people, led by OCU "priest" Ruslan Kocherzhuk, tried to force their way into the church. Parishioners stood in front of the doors, prayed, and prevented the raiders from taking over the temple.

According to sources within the community, the Holy Spirit parish has a fixed membership, and all members of the congregation are listed in the registration book. On July 23, a community meeting was held, during which all parishioners unanimously decided to remain in the UOC. However, on July 30, local authorities gathered around a hundred people at the village club. Among the initiators were the school director, the wife of a Uniate priest, official Svitlana Koropchuk, and the village head, Angela Hlushko. They used administrative resources to involve local residents in the meeting. Among them were many Greek Catholics and representatives of other denominations.

The village of Luh has around 1,900 residents, with a significant portion of them living abroad. The Holy Spirit Church was built in 2008 through the efforts of the parish, with a major contribution from one of the sponsors. The sponsor's son is among the defenders of the church.

The OCU had already taken away a chapel from the UOC community on the Day of Pentecost. Now, they are targeting the main church. According to sources, the rector of the church, Archpriest Volodymyr Lehach, and the parishioners have been explicitly told that the church will be taken from them. Local businessmen Serhiy Yezytsa and Ivan Stepaniuk allegedly have already agreed on everything with the "bishop" of the OCU in Transcarpathia, Varsonofiy Rudnyk.

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