A religious community is being sent out of a village in Rovenskaya Region by the proponents of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church
October 20, 2016. In the village of Sudobichi, Rovenskaya Region (Ukraine), where “Kyiv Patriarchate” appropriated the church, local worshipers continue holding sacred services in one of the local farmhouses, according to the Information and Educational Departament of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
The appropriation of the church, named after Kosma and Damian, the Holy Unmercenaries, took place on 11 September, 2014.
However, there have been attempts to deprive the worshipers from the premises as well.
“Our neighbors – the so-called “Christians” of the “Kyiv Patriarchate” are trying to kick us out of the house. Every week they write a claim letter to the police, stating that our priest spreads propagandistic literature“, – said Maria Zhak, a churchwoman and a great-granddaughter of the owner of the house.
According to Priest Alexander Kardash, the Father Superior of the parish, these slanderous accusations are spread among the villagers by a small group of proponents of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Kyiv Patriarchate, with the aim to kick him and his family out of Sudobichi. “No matter how hard they agitate for the Kyiv Patriarchate”, only 5 people go to this church after the appropriation. The other churchgoers, who used to attend worships on a regular basis, have to say prayers in the house“, – said the priest.
Local government authorities support the active proponents of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, who openly propagandize hatred towards the church in Sudobichi.
At the meeting of the villagers, which took place this summer,
it was decided to take away the plot of land from the priest, who owns it on legal grounds.