Radomyshl. OCU Raiders Beat Worshippers in UOC Cathedral

St. Nicholas Cathedral of the UOC

Address: Zhytomyr Oblast, city of Radomyshl, Soborna Square, 8

The St. Nicholas Cathedral of the UOC in Radomyshl was subjected twice to a violent assault by OCU raiders. The attackers burst into the church in the middle of a church service and began beating the worshippers and clergy present in the cathedral.

Moreover, a conversation among activists was recorded during which the raiders planned provocations inside the cathedral.

On September 6, 2023, representatives of the OCU beat a wounded soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and worshippers of the St. Nicholas Church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

A group of raiders led by two OCU clerics entered the church during a service. Waiting until the rector came out to give communion to the faithful, the raiders caused a disturbance and rushed toward the altar.

The worshippers blocked the attackers from entering the altar, and OCU supporters called for reinforcements. A bus with activists arrived at the church, who began literally throwing parishioners out of the building.

It came to the point where the criminals struck even a wounded AFU soldier who was praying at the service, and also attacked a priest and a sexton.

In addition, they attacked a UOC parishioner whose son had been killed at the front.

(Source: UOJ)

On September 9, 2023, in the city of Radomyshl, Zhytomyr Oblast, raiders led by OCU cleric Vasyl Kolishchak staged a provocation involving an assault on clergymen of the UOC St. Nicholas Church.

As a result, the church was sealed.

The attackers broke into the church during a service. Footage shows several men (some of them in military uniforms) forcibly dragging a UOC priest and a deacon out of the church, after which water is poured in their faces.

Having forced their way into the church, the activists together with Kolishchak, despite the fact that an evening service was underway, simultaneously began to sing and "serve" as well.

At the same time, activist Taisiya Vasyliuk and several OCU representatives were discussing a possible provocation inside the church. In her view, "a brawl needs to be staged" in the church.

"We'll start pushing each other so that they drive us all out — we'll push them! So that the soldiers push us all out together with them," the provocateurs proposed.

In the video, an OCU supporter is forced to acknowledge that the police "are simply standing and making sure no one fights. And can't do anything more."

She also asks, out on the street, whether she can assault a police officer and provoke a brawl that would result in parishioners being removed from the church.

The raiders were urging parishioners to leave "the nice way," threatening that "blood might be shed." In response, the faithful said they were merely defending their constitutional rights, and beyond that — "as God wills."

"So you're ready to die, then? Who should be pushed first so that the guys start acting?" asked one of the raiders.

In the end, after the national anthem of Ukraine was sung, parishioners were removed from the church, whose doors were then sealed.

(Source: UOJ)

On September 24, 2023, Metropolitan Vissarion of Ovruch and Korosten visited the community of the UOC St. Nicholas Cathedral in the city of Radomyshl, Zhytomyr Oblast, which had been sealed by the authorities.

The church was sealed as a result of a provocation staged by OCU activists led by "priest" Vasyl Kolishchak.

According to the diocesan press service, the OCU community plans to register at the address of the St. Nicholas Church and then seize it. The diocese does not rule out that the raiders intend to be supported by the city authorities.

"Hegumen John (Hrushevsky) and the community are proving their case on the basis of Orthodox canon law and the Constitution of Ukraine to city council deputies, and if necessary, they will continue to do so through legal channels in court," the statement notes.

(Source: UOJ)

On November 10, 2023, SBU officers came to the UOC St. Nicholas Church for an inspection.

The reason for the law enforcement visit to the church was not reported.

(Source: UOJ)