Korop parishioners thwart provocation of OCU and confirm loyalty to UOC

The community of the Assumption Church of the UOC, Korop. Photo: orthodox.cn.ua

The community of the Holy Assumption Parish of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the village of Korop, Chernihiv region, did not allow the unlawful “transfer” of its church to the OCU. Almost half a thousand believers of the UOC came to the meeting, which was held in the house of culture by the “priest” of Dumenkovites from another district, and thwarted the provocation. This was reported by the press service of the Nizhyn diocese of the UOC.

“Realizing that the overwhelming majority of the Koropians categorically oppose any oppression of their religious community, which was founded by the Monk Feofan of Korop and developed by the already deceased Elder Archimandrite Nikolai (Putria), the organizers of the provocation were visibly embarassed and refused to register all participants in the meeting and hold an open vote,” says the press service.

Instead of voting on changing the jurisdiction of the Assumption Parish, the organizers of the meeting announced their desire to register the Ilyinsky community of the OCU, but they were reminded that the Ilyinsky community of the UOC-KP had existed in the village for many years and was not willing to unite with the structure of Dumenko. The state gave it the St. Elias Church, an architectural monument of the 18th century, but for decades, representatives of the UOC-KP did not even begin to restore the premises.

“When those present began to demand an answer from the organizers about why the UOC-KP community does not unite with the OCU, the 'priest' of the OCU turned on the anthem of Ukraine and announced the end of the meeting,” the press service said.

After that, the believers of the UOC returned to their temple and held a parish meeting, at which they unanimously voted to remain in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church under the omophorion of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry. 486 parishioners took part in the voting. The parish notified the Chernihiv Regional State Administration, the Novhorod-Seversk District State Administration and the Korop Village Council of its decision.

As reported by the UOJ, on May 6, OCU raiders tried to seize the St. Nicholas Church of the UOC in the village of Mityntsi, Khmelnytsky region, but the believers defended the shrine.

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