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UOC-MP Orthodox and Greek Catholics Clash in Transcarpathian Tiachiv

31.10.2007, [10:38] // Conflict //

Tiachiv, Transcarpathian Region – On 30 October 2007, supporters of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) conducted a massive Way of the Cross in the town of Tiachiv, where, according to Ruslan Zaporiz’kyi, leader of the Army of Faithful Cossacks of the Black Sea and church member, supporters of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) occupied the Orthodox Church of the Holy Protection in August. nr2.ru reported the story.

“Initially, the Orthodox made concessions to the Uniates and agreed to hold alternative liturgies in the church building. However, later, the Greek Catholics installed their locks on the door and did not let the Orthodox in. In fact, it was an illegal seizure of the church building,” he claims.

“After that, the Uniates carried out all the Orthodox icons and priests’ vestments and through them outside, defiling the church. Authorities are doing nothing about this criminal act of taking away the church,” insisted Zaporiz’kyi.

In his commentary for RISU’s Ukrainian-language site, Deacon Peter Kresnicki of the UGCC, who is the church pastor, stressed that until 1948 the church belonged to the UGCC and was named the Church of the Assumption of the Holy Mary. The church is currently engaged in a law suit challenging Order #151 of the Tiachiv Regional Council, in accordance with which the church building was transferred to the UOC-MP in 1991. Authorities, allegedly favoring the UOC-MP, gave the Greek Catholics no access to the archives and, thus, deprived them of any possibility to prove their rights for the church.

According to Father Peter, the conflict escalated on 29 August after a church holiday when the Greek Catholics were not allowed into the church and prayed 40 days outside. Representatives of the UOC-MP refused to negotiate. Now the Greek Catholic community is trying to resolve the conflict in court.

• http://www.nr2.ru/crimea/147168.html