New church of UOC consecrated in Onishkivtsi to replace the seized one

Consecration of the new church of the UOC in Onishkivtsi. Photo: facebook.com/CF Favor

A year after the raider seizure of the Dormition Church by supporters of the OCU, a new temple of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in honor of the Dormition of the Mother of God was consecrated in the village of Onishkivtsi of the Shumsk district, Ternopil region, reports the Orthodox Charitable Foundation "Favor" on its Facebook page on August 31, 2020. 

“In February 2019, representatives of the OCU took the Dormition Church from the believers in the village of Onishkivtsi, Ternopil region,” the message says. “Without losing heart and without giving up, the community was able to build a new church in just a year. And that is why today for the local residents is marked with special joy and grace – the consecration of a new temple erected by their efforts and labors."

The rite of consecration was performed by Metropolitan Sergiy of Ternopil and Kremenets. The solemn event was attended by representatives of the Charity Foundation "Favor", which aided in the construction of the temple.

“The Lord never leaves his children, and the new church in Onishkivtsi testifies to this,” the Foundation stressed. “The words of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry are true: ‘You can take away the walls from believers, but you cannot take away their faith.’ We sincerely congratulate the community of the Dormition Church on the holiday and triumph of the true faith."

Parishioners especially thank the philanthropist Andrei Vasilyevich Biba, who invested significant funds in the construction of the new church, including the iconostasis, and the territory beautification.

We recall that on February 9, 2019, representatives of the OCU broke down the doors and seized the UOC Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God in Onishkivtsi. Believers were forced to pray in the cold and then perform services in a room adjusted for the purposes.

With the participation of the Charitable Foundation "Favor", the community began construction of a new church, and on February 8, 2020, the ruling bishop of the Ternopil Eparchy consecrated bells and domed crosses for it.

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