OCU asks to award Hero of Ukraine to UOC-KP activist killed by lightning

Vasyl Chervoniy. Photo: volyn.com.ua

Representatives of the OCU in Rivne ask the local authorities to lobby for the posthumous awarding of the title "Hero of Ukraine" to Vasyl Chervoniy, a politician and activist of the UOC-KP, who died in 2009 from a lightning strike.

As "Suspilne" reports, on July 13, 2021, the cleric of the local Holy Protection Cathedral of the OCU, which was built under the leadership of Chervoniy, addressed the Rivno deputies with a corresponding request.

At the commission on urban issues, "Archpriest" Petro Martyniuk said that the diocese of the OCU, headed by Ilarion Protsik, officially applied to the mayor's office with a request for the title of "Hero of Ukraine" for Vasyl Chervoniy, who "made a worthy contribution to the formation of Ukraine". This appeal, according to Martyniuk, was supported by “thousands of our parishioners”, and asked to consider it first at the commission, and then at the city council.

“The commission voted on this issue without discussion: four in favour and one deputy abstained. Since the minimum of five votes "for" was not gained, this issue is submitted to the session on July 22 as considered but not supported by the commission,” the resource said.

Vasyl Chervoniy (at birth – Dziubuk – Ed.) was a VR deputy of the first four convocations and a deputy of the Rivne Regional Council, from February 2005 to May 2006 he headed the Rivne Regional State Administration.

Chervoniy was an active parishioner of the schismatic UOC-KP and a member of its “Supreme Church Council”. In the 90s, he was an initiator and a participant in the seizures of UOC churches. He died in 2009 in the hospital after being struck by lightning while fishing. Vasily Chervoniy was buried on the territory of the Holy Protection Cathedral in Rivne, built under his leadership, which previously belonged to the UOC-KP, and now is the main temple of the Rivne Diocese of the OCU.

We also note that the title "Hero of Ukraine" is a state award (the highest degree of distinction), which is awarded by decree of the President of Ukraine for committing an outstanding heroic deed or labour achievement.

As reported, Rivne "hierarch" of the OCU awarded officials who participated in the seizures of churches.

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