UOC monastery in Cherkasy cordoned off by special forces with machine guns

A UOC believer and police officers near the monastery of the Nativity of the Theotokos (UOC) in Cherkasy. Photo: spzh.news

On the evening of 16 November 2023, armed special forces, SBU officers and representatives of the National Corps cordoned off the territory of the monastery of the Nativity of the Mother of God of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Cherkasy, attempted to be raided by OCU activists, reports Archpriest Georgy Pohranichnyy, the head of the Cherkasy Eparchy's Legal Department.

According to him, the OCU activists have already put new locks on the doors and then surrounded it waiting for the faithful and clergy of the UOC, who are holding an evening service in the temple.

The priest said that the group of raiders brought with them documents on the re-registration of the community. The documents say that the believers allegedly voted for the "transition" to the OCU as early as 10 August 2023, and the vote itself allegedly took place on the territory of the monastery.

At the same time, according to the head of the Legal Department of the eparchy, no meetings took place on the territory of the monastery on 10 August.

"OCU activists came to the monastery with the representatives of the National Corps. They brought along an extract from the website "Opendatabot" that the community moved from one legal entity (UOC – Ed.) to the OCU, as well as the order on the appointment of a new rector from the OCU," he said.

Fr. Georgy also added that together with the activists, there are 5 OCU chaplains on the church territory.

As reported, activists with the participation of the police attempted to seize the UOC monastery in Cherkasy.

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