In Kotiuzhiny Kiev Patriarchate keeps terrorizing the UOC community (VIDEO)

Another attempt to pressure the rector of the religious community of the seized UOC temple in the village of Kotiuzhiny, Zbarazh region of Ternopil region, was committed on the Day of the Baptism of Rus. This is reported by the Information and Education Department of the UOC.

Late in the evening on July 27, 2017, representatives of the Kyiv Patriarchate tried to penetrate the premises of the church house where the religious community of the UOC performs the Divine Service after the seizure by the schismatics of their church.

According to the rector of the church of the First Martyr Stephen, Archpriest Alexander Kantitsky, the raiders' actions of the UOC-KP activists and two police officers who helped penetrate into the house, were prevented by the police squad that had arrived on the call of the priest.

"Around 21:00, armed with an angle grinder and other improvised means, representatives of the UOC-KP decided to enter the church house, where I was registered. They called their police on the pretext that there was someone allegedly in the building. Then they said that they wanted to check the counter readings.

“They were noticed by a neighbor who called me, and I called another police squad by 102 number, saying that their employees are helping to illegally enter the premises," father Alexander said. “Having arrived at the scene, the law enforcement officers warned the attackers that a criminal responsibility is foreseen for their actions and hacking was prevented."

The house was decided to be sealed until 5:00 pm the next day. Thus, a festive divine service on the occasion of the Baptism Day of Rus was spoilt.

According to father Alexander Kantitsky, one of the two demands that the raiders offered him the next day was to withdraw all claims from the court.

As a result of negotiations, the religious community of the UOC agreed to divide the house into two parts. The clergyman of the UOC-KP was offered to give a room and a kitchen, where he could spend the night. They left a place for committing services.

"However, they are not satisfied with such a proposal. They want me to leave the house, then they will conclude an agreement that the religious community of the UOC can continue to serve unhindered in the house. It is clear that this treaty will not have legal force. They just want us to "drive out"," the priest said.

This is not the first attempt of the schismatics to break into the priest's house. Now various courts continue the consideration of the case of illegal seizure of the UOC temple in Kotiuzhiny village. Recently, Archpriest Alexander was attacked right in the courthouse. On the very day of riots, July 27, in Zbarazh District Court, the claim of the rector of the captured church was to be considered. Schismatics did not appear in court, instead they decided to break into the priest's house.

On February 11, the Kyiv Patriarchate, with the support of the radicals from the "Right Sector", seized the temple of the religious community of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in honor of the First Martyr Stephen in Kotiuzhiny village, Zbarazh region, Ternopil region. At present the UOC community holds divine services in the house located on the church premises.