Persecuted UOC parish in Tovtry celebrates Holy Unction Sacrament
The faithful of the Dormition parish, deprived of their church by OCU supporters, gathered for common prayer in an adapted space during Great Lent.
In the village of Tovtry of the Zastavna Deanery of the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Eparchy of the UOC, clergy celebrated the Sacrament of Holy Unction in a space arranged for worship. The service brought together the faithful of the parish dedicated to the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, who for several years have been forced to pray in cramped conditions.
The rite was led by the rector of the parish, Archpriest Oleksandr Shtefanytsia. He was concelebrated by clergy of the Zastavna Deanery. Despite its status as a “persecuted” parish, the community continues to live a full liturgical life and to celebrate the special services of Great Lent.
As the UOJ previously reported, on May 18, 2019, supporters of the OCU forcibly seized the Dormition church of the canonical Church in Tovtry, cutting the locks off the doors. Police officers then formed a human chain, pushing UOC faithful back and securing entry into the building for the church raiders. Despite the loss of their shrine, the parish has preserved its unity and continues its social ministry. In particular, at the start of the war, parishioners actively helped accommodate evacuated children from the city of Voznesensk in Mykolaiv region.
