The most cynical scheme for raiding UOC churches revealed online

Scandal involving the funeral of an AFU soldier orchestrated by OCU representatives. Photo: Andriy Hlushchenko's Facebook

Deacon of the UOC, Andriy Hlushchenko, shared in a Facebook post details of a new provocation scheme being actively used by "priests" of the OCU.

"OCU clergy arrange with the relatives to conduct the funeral service for a fallen Ukrainian soldier but then bring the body not to their church but to a nearby UOC church," he wrote.

According to the deacon, OCU "priests" demand that the church be opened for the funeral service but deny UOC clergy the right to perform the service themselves, claiming that the UOC priest "has no moral right, being a 'Moscow priest,' to bury a Ukrainian soldier."

Hlushchenko emphasized that such actions are premeditated and intended to provoke. "Without prior agreements or permissions, OCU 'priests' demand that the church rector provide them with the temple so they can perform the service themselves."

UOC priests typically refuse, which fully aligns with church canons:

1. "The UOC and OCU do not have Eucharistic communion or concelebration."
2. "The UOC officially does not recognize the priesthood of the OCU."
3. "UOC churches are not public spaces that anyone can use."
4. "Services in the church may only be conducted by the community under its priest’s leadership."

Nevertheless, OCU "priests" continue bringing the bodies of fallen soldiers, "fully aware that many UOC priests will not agree to this." As a result, they stage public scandals, accusing UOC rectors of "a lack of patriotism, betrayal, and secretly working for Moscow."

"The goal of these actions by OCU 'priests' is not prayer for the deceased or the funeral service itself but provocation, a loud scandal, and public conflict to discredit the local UOC priest," Hlushchenko noted.

He claimed such incidents are used to pressure religious communities and attempt to transfer churches from the UOC to the OCU.

Even when a UOC priest agrees, the provocations do not end. "For example, OCU cleric Roman Hryshchuk often stages loud scandals if a UOC priest does not open the Royal Doors in their church. According to the liturgical rules, the Royal Doors are not to be opened during a funeral service, though some churches follow this practice."

Hlushchenko cited a recent example: "OCU 'priests,' without prior arrangements, brought the body of a fallen soldier to a UOC church. The rector refused to open it. OCU clerics performed the funeral service outside the church fence, deliberately creating a loud scandal."

As the UOJ previously reported, the OCU recently honored the mayor of Cherkasy again for assisting in the seizure of a UOC cathedral.

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