Krasyliv priest tells how activists sneaked into UOC temple for takeover

Archpriest Petro Koval. Photo: screenshot of Khmelnytsky Eparchy video

The rector of the Church of the Nativity of Christ in Krasyliv, Khmelnytsky Oblast, Archpriest Petro Koval, described how activists attempting to seize the church planned their actions and how they entered the sanctuary of the UOC parishioners. The video commentary by the priest was posted by the Khmelnytsky Eparchy.

He explained that on May 4, while preparations for the Easter service were underway in the church, unknown individuals broke one of the locks on the gate, partially blocking people inside the church. At that time, the parishioners of the UOC realized there was a church raid ahead. On May 14, when many members of the UOC religious community in Krasyliv were in the neighboring village of Pylypy, where local activists of the OCU announced the planned "transition" of the St. Nicholas Church to Dumenko's structure, they received a message that the doors of the Church of the Nativity of Christ had been opened.

Archpriest Petro Koval showed the gate that supporters of the OCU removed from its hinges, the side door of the church where they tried to drill the lock, and the central door whose lock was broken. At the same time, deputies of the district and regional councils, who were near the church, claimed that UOC parishioners themselves broke the gate.

The rector of the church vividly demonstrated why the words of Serhiy Bobukh (a local businessman and official, director of the Khmelnytsky municipal enterprise "Electrotrans"), who turned out to be a church raider, about entering the church and locking it from the inside, are lies. The priest also showed that entry into the church was made through a window.

He stated that as of today, the police know the names of three individuals caught in the church raid, but they are not drawing any conclusions and are not presenting any suspicions to the perpetrators.

As the UOJ reported, on May 14, 2024, a group of raiders once again attempted to seize the Church of the Nativity of Christ in the city of Krasyliv. The raid was led by local businessman and official Serhiy Bobukh.

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