UOC priest on situation in Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi: It’s terrible

The rector of the UOC church in Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi, Archpriest Ioann Nalapko. Photo: a screenshot from the YouTube channel of the Cherkasy Eparchy

The rector of the seizeв Church of the Holy Mandylion (UOC) in Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi, Archpriest Ioann Nalapko, described how raiders barbarically took over the church at night, what is happening near the desecrated shrine now, and how the same people who came to take away the believers' place of worship had previously hindered the construction of this church. A video with the UOC priest's commentary was published on the Telegram channel of the Cherkasy Eparchy.

"Something terrible happened today – around midnight, some thugs came, broke the gates, the locks of the church. The noise, fear. It was impossible to see these horrors. People went beyond the bounds of human nature," said Archpriest Ioann.

He noted that they were breaking into the church until 5 in the morning, using a sledgehammer on the metal doors, tearing off the grates.

"In early morning, they finished all those barbaric actions. The police, whom we contacted, responded that they did not have the right to intervene, saying it was all legal," the priest explained.

Believers gathered for prayer around half-past six in the morning, and all day, while they prayed near the fence, according to the rector of the Orthodox parish, the raiders "were playing a disco in the church".

"The territorial defence from Cherkasy has arrived and just mocks us. They insult people passing by. We couldn't even imagine this could happen. It’s the first time we’ve been in such a situation and all the residents of Korsun have encountered such rudeness, such incivility and such horrors. And the saddest thing is that no one is doing anything. Everyone is standing, everyone is silent and saying: this is how it should be so," he says.

The rector of the seized Church of the Holy Mandylion said that no one is allowed inside, not even to take personal belongings.

"My personal belongings are there – vestments, a miter, cassocks... Many children's things – bicycles, children's clothes... Many children come here to play. They are not giving anything back. We don't know what to do or in what position we are in. And in general, what world we are in. Are we in this world or is it a dream?" the elderly priest lamented.

He also added that when this church was being built, the same people were hindering its construction.

"This was a terrible place: drug addicts, people who used this place for their bad deeds. And now it is the only creative place where people can look at this beauty, at love... So much has been done here, and these people came to say this is theirs… How can one do such things?" Fr Ioann asks.

He requested prayers from all believers: "We ask for prayers. Maybe, the Lord will have mercy on our people. Maybe, the Lord will have mercy on these terrible deeds of His own people. These are people whom I have known for over forty years, whom I have baptized. Therefore, forgive me for speaking so emotionally."

As reported by the UOJ, around midnight on May 30, the Church of the Holy Mandylion (UOC) in the town of Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi, Cherkasy region, was seized. During the day, the church was surrounded by armed people in military uniform, and to drown out the prayers of the believers, the OCU raiders brought speakers to play music.

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