In Volyn, UOC priests not allowed to hold last rites over soldier in church

A funeral of a serviceman. Photo: the Volodymyr-Volyn Eparchy

On 25 August 2024, in the village of Voloshky of the Kovel district, Volyn region, the funeral of the deceased soldier Bohdan Honchar was held. The priests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church had to perform last rites over the soldier in the churchyard of the closed St. Nicholas Church, as they were not allowed inside the temple, reports the press service of the Volodymyr-Volyn Eparchy.

Junior sergeant Bohdan Honchar, a sergeant major of a paratrooper assault platoon, who turned 35 in July, gave his life for Ukraine on 19 August near the village of Sheptukhovka in Russia's Kursk region during a combat mission.

Despite a request from the mother of the deceased, the authorities and representatives of the OCU, who illegally took possession of the church and closed it down, did not allow the funeral to take place properly.

Priests of the Volodymyr-Volyn Eparchy, including Archpriest Volodymyr Rovinsky, Archpriest Mykhailo Chupak and Archpriest Vitaliy Lashta, rector of the local Orthodox community, accompanied the coffin with the body from the family home to the temple and then to the cemetery.

As reported by the UOC, a Volyn MP incites physical violence against UOC believers.

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