Schismatics disrupted a divine celebration and seized an Orthodox church in Ukraine
August 24, 2015. Unidentified persons entered in St.Vladimir’s church in the village of Malye Dmitrovichi, the Obukhov District (the Kiev Region, Ukraine). They interrupted the Divine Liturgy, which was taking place. They called themselves representatives of the local self-defence and they started swearing. Under those circumstances, the rector stopped the celebration and the parishioners left from the church and the church was closed. According to press service of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, priests of the self-proclaimed Kiev Patriarchate later joined the invaders.
Militia arrived on parishioners’ call, but kept away from the incident and did not interfere when the celebration was disrupted. The local community turned to the prosecutor’s office complaining on the intruders and law-enforcement officers.