In Bohuslav, Trinity Church believers reaffirm loyalty to UOC

On July 17, 2022, in the city of Bohuslav of the Kyiv region (the Bila Tserkva Eparchy), supporters of the OCU held a meeting about the transfer of the Trinity Church community (UOC) to the Dumenko structure, reports the Kamyanets-Podilskyi City Council deputy's assistant and human rights activist Victoria Kokhanovska on her Facebook page.

Supporters of the OCU gathered at the local House of Culture. They already had lists with affirmative votes. "We were collecting signatures on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday," explained one of the organizers of the gathering, while being asked, "Which Church are you collecting signatures for?" she replied, "UOC-KP." All those who wanted to enter the institution had their passports checked by people in military uniform and were required to register locally.

At this "veche" (gathering – Trans.) in the House of Culture, the territorial community voted for the transfer of the Trinity Church of the UOC to the OCU. Several activists went to the temple to demand the keys, but the UOC believers who had gathered on the temple grounds refused to give them.

At the same time, one of the OCU activists said that the schismatics have all the rights to the Holy Trinity Church. "We legally have everything we need to come in here. But we will let the situation go because we have peace of mind and we are not bloodthirsty. Everything has to be according to the law. So I propose that we disperse. We will decide how we will proceed. The law is on our side and we will transfer this church to the jurisdiction of the OCU," the Dumenko supporter promised.

Parishioners of the Trinity Church reaffirmed that they remain in the UOC. "They say it is written in the Gospel that when you are slapped on one cheek, turn the other. We have already turned the other cheek, we do not have a third. We have to defend ourselves – legally, prayerfully, with love in our hearts, with respect," stressed one of the priests of the Trinity Church.

Lawyer Viktoria Kokhanovska said that the church in Bohuslav has been defended as the meetings of the territorial community have no legal force.

As reported, the OCU is preparing to seize a UOC church in the village of Korobchino.

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