Since the seizure of the church in Horoshivtsi by the OCU, the UOC community has rallied even more, although at first some were discouraged and did not know what to do.
Archpriest Fedor Korol, rector of the Holy Dormition Parish in Horoshivtsi village in “Analitika” program on the Vitrazhi youtube-channel said that by the end of spring in Horoshivtsi of Chernivtsi region, construction of a new church would be commenced to replace the one seized by the OCU.
“After the church was taken away from us, the people loyal to our Primate grew discouraged, because there was nowhere to pray. For about a month we served only prayer (moleben) services, and then one believer let his house to our disposal, so we could serve there. Later the Lord sent donors who donated a place for the construction of the temple, and by the grace of God we built a temporary temple there, where we are now serving. In the spring we will start building the temple. I think that the Lord will help us with time, and we will have our own new temple,” said the rector of the temple.
According to Father Fedor, two years have passed since the seizure of the church, but the Lord arranged everything, and the UOC community has become even more consolidated.
“At first, people did not know what to do, where to go, who to contact. But the Lord disposed everything, and though we seemed to be divided, we have become even more united thanks to this trial. There are those who fell into despair, yet there are faithful people you can rely on, you can work with in the cause of salvation and benefit for the Church,” added the rector of the Holy Dormition parish.
Recall that on January 20, 2019, OCU activists, with the support of local authorities, illegally seized the church of the UOC in the village of Horoshivtsi, Zastavna district. At the meeting where the fate of the temple was decided, supporters of the OCU from different villages, who had nothing to do with the temple, voted for the transition to the OCU.
As the UOJ previously reported, a temporary church of the UOC was consecrated in Horoshivtsi instead of the one taken over by the OCU.
