UOC church in Vinnytsia damaged by shelling, priest’s son wounded

Church of St. George the Victorious in Vinnytsia. Photo: Google Maps

On 14 July 2022, a missile strike on Vinnytsia caused severe damage to the under-construction St. George’s Church, located near the Officers’ House, which was the target of the Russian missiles.

“The church was badly damaged, especially the lower rooms, the ceilings collapsed, there isn’t a single window left, no doors, the central dome was damaged, the carved cornices were ruined, the utility buildings where we stored everything for construction and decorations for the domes were destroyed. The Sunday school building was completely demolished, windows shattered, metal frames twisted, everything needs to be rebuilt from scratch. Everything we did has to start over,” Father Valeriy Shvets, the church’s rector, told the UOJ.

He added that the missile strike happened right after a funeral service, and as people were leaving the church, everyone present was hit by shrapnel, including his son Nazar, who was wounded by glass fragments.

The parish is asking parishioners to help clear the debris and organize security patrols on the property.

As the UOJ reported, Metropolitan Nikodim met with parishioners of the destroyed churches in Lysychansk.

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