In Mytyntsi, UOC priest's large family is being evicted by OCU supporters

The family of Archpriest Oleh Tsaruk, cleric of the Khmelnytskyi Eparchy of the UOC. Photo: Facebook video screenshot

The family of Archpriest Oleh Tsaruk, a cleric of the Khmelnytskyi Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), is being forced out of their home in Mytyntsi, Khmelnytskyi district, by representatives of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), who seized the parish church a year ago. According to Fr. Oleh, they are being evicted despite having four minor children and no other housing options.

Father Oleh has been the rector of the local St. Nicholas Church since May 12, 2017. The OCU representatives seized the church on August 19, 2023. He explained that now he, his wife, and their four young children (one of whom is disabled and another not even a year old) are being forced to leave the church-owned house where they have lived since 2018.

On August 6, a group of OCU representatives came to demand the family vacate the house. A police officer who arrived said that the village head, Mykola Buts, had issued a document ordering the Tsaruk family’s removal from their place of residence. Father Oleh reached out to local authorities for an official explanation but has yet to receive a response.

On September 4, the head of the newly formed OCU parish, Oksana Leviy, attempted to have the family's electricity cut off. Despite Fr. Oleh’s appeal against these unlawful actions, on September 5, workers from the power company disconnected the house from electricity.

The priest’s wife believes this situation is a clear example of the abuse faced by UOC believers, highlighting the violation of their basic rights to live due to their "wrong" religious views.

Fr. Oleh emphasized that he possesses all legal documents confirming ownership of the house, but no one has provided official evidence of his family's eviction from the property.

“This situation, unfortunately, is not an isolated case, and such actions are unacceptable in a state that aspires to be called democratic,” commented representatives of the Khmelnytskyi Eparchy.

As previously reported by the UOJ, a similar eviction is happening to a UOC priest's family in Blydcha, Kyiv region, where OCU supporters are forcing them out of their home.

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