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Conflict between Greek Catholics and UOC-MP Orthodox in Transcarpathia Continues

23.11.2006, [16:15] // Conflict //

Uzhhorod — A conflict between communities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) and the Greek Catholic Church (GCC) in the village of Zaricheve, Perechyn District, in southwestern Ukraine’s Transcarpathia region, has been going on since October. RISU posted additional information on 23 November 2006, commenting on a story from interfax-religion.ru of 15 November.

According to interfax-religion.ru, the UOC-MP faithful had not been able to enter the church for two weeks, because GCC faithful were blockading the entrance. UOC-MP Bishop Ahapit (Bevtsyk) of Uzhhorod and Mukachevo traveled to the village to support the faithful. According to interfax-religion.ru, the UOC-MP faithful were eventually able, with the help of the police, to enter the church and hold services.

RISU asked Nadia Tokarchuk, acting head of the Department on Matters of Internal Policy of the Transcarpathia Regional Administration (TRA), to comment. According to Tokarchuk, the conflict became particularly harsh after a repeat attempt to sign an agreement on taking turns holding religious services in the church, which the Greek Catholics demand. The UOC-MP faithful have absolutely refused. According to Tokarchuk, the parish priest of the UOC-MP has a tolerant attitude and is not categorically against taking turns, but he has given the laity the initiative in resolving the issue.

Tokarchuk corrected a statement of interfax-religion.ru that the TRA decided to build a church for the Greek Catholics at the government’s expense. She said that the administration does not have the right to make such a decision. There was, she said, an instruction from the TRA regarding taking turns holding services in Zaricheve; however the Appelate Court of the Transcarpathia Region cancelled this in May 2005. After this, there was a new decision according to which the church is the property of the government and was transferred to the use of the UOC-MP faithful.

Tokarchuk said land has been allotted to the Greek Catholics to build a new church, but the community does not agree to this because of a lack of money.

Source:

• http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=226415111