In Raikivtsi, vandals smear red paint on the walls of the UOC temple

The UOC temple in Raikivtsi after the actions of vandals. Photo: Telegram channel of the Khmelnytskyi Eparchy of the UOC

Vandals committed an act of vandalism against the UOC church dedicated to the icon of the Mother of God "Support to the Humble" in the village of Raikivtsi, Khmelnytskyi region. The incident occurred on October 5, 2023. Unknown individuals vandalized the church by painting its walls with red paint and leaving the inscription "MP" (Moscow Patriarchate) on the asphalt nearby. This information is reported by the press service of the Khmelnytskyi Eparchy of the UOC.

The announcement emphasizes that the perpetrators committed criminal offenses under three articles of the Criminal Code: Article 161 (inciting religious enmity), Article 194 (property damage), and Article 296 (hooliganism) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The UOC community has filed a relevant statement with the police.

"The Khmelnytskyi Eparchy of the UOC reminds about the special attention of international human rights institutions, including the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, regarding actions directed against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church," the press service emphasizes. "Therefore, all cases of violations of the rights of UOC believers will be transmitted and considered within the framework of the international legal system for the protection of human rights."

As previously reported , the UOC church dedicated to the icon of the Mother of God "Support to the Humble" in Raikivtsi was consecrated on August 6, 2023, by Archbishop Victor of Khmelnytskyi and Starokostiantyniv. This village is the ancestral home of the former Metropolitan of Vinnytsia and Bar, Simeon Shostatsky, the only ruling hierarch of the UOC who switched to the OCU (Orthodox Church of Ukraine).

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