Several othodox churches robbed in Ukraine – malefactors even stole donations for children with cancer
October 23, 2016. For several years in the Rivne region (Ukraine) vandals have been robbing the UOC temples, none of the cases have been solved yet.
Two temples in Ostrog Deanery of Rivne Diocese of the UOC were robbed on the night of October 21d to 22d, 2016. The church in two neighboring villages also suffered – Sejanci and Tesov, as reported by the UOC Information and Education Department www.news.church.ua with reference to the website of the Rivny eparchy.
“Due to the tense situation with the looting of churches in the diocese – said the Head of diocese of Ostrog district Archpriest Alexander Maksimyuk – the believers and priests are trying to follow the churches and every night walk around the church territory. That is how this crime was revealed.”
It is worth mentioning that last year alone more than twenty acts of vandalism and robbery of churches were committed on the territory of the Rivne region, none of the crimes have been solved and the criminals haven’t received due punishment.
According to the head of diocese, the churchwarden of St. Nicholas church in Tesovo village noticed a broken door and called the police. The law enforcement officials found out that a considerable amount of money disappeared from the church cash register. Also, the attackers stole money from the box of donations for children with cancer.
A similar situation occurred in St. George’s church in the village Sejanci. The Head of diocese called the rector of the local church after he became aware of the crime in Tesov. The priest came to the church and also found signs of burglary.
In both cases the thieves made a mess in the churches and took all the money from the cash register and boxes of donations, however, they were not interested in church utensils or old icons. The vandals didn’t touch the Blessed Sacrament and the throne. The investigation and operational team of law enforcement is working on the ground.
According to the locals that night St. Mary Magdalene church of the UOC in Badovka neighboring village was also robbed. For two years the church has been occupied by the “Kiev Patriarchate”.
On October 11th the Metropolitan of Sarny Anatoly sent an appeal to the President with a request to protect the religious feelings of believers and churches of the UOC from vandalism. In the Rivne region the criminals have been robbing for several years the temples of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church unpunished.