Believers of Kozin village gift the faithful of Gribovitsa village with a temple (VIDEO)

The UOC believers of the village of Kozin in Kyiv eparchy have transferred their temple to Volyn, helping the Christians who suffered from schismatics. As reported by the UOJ correspondent, on August 30, 2017 a meeting of representatives of the two religious communities of Kiev and Vladimir-Volyn dioceses was held at the residence of the Kyiv Metropolitanate, chaired by the UOC-Chancellor Metropolitan of Borispol and Brovary Anthony (Pakanich). Orthodox believers of Kyiv region passed their church to Volyn.

A religious community in the honor of Holy Princes Boris and Gleb of Kozin village of Kiev eparchy is on the right way to finish a new big church, while their small wooden temple was agreed to be transferred to the faithful of Volyn region, to Gribovitsa village, where the schismatics from the Kiev Patriarchate had grabbed the temple from the parish. It was reported by Archpriest of the temple father Peter Arterchuk.

The UOC Chancellor, Metropolitan Anthony, recalled that over the past three years, more than 40 temples of the UOC have been illegally seized.

"Despite this, the believers remain loyal to their Church," said Vladyka Anthony. “So, on July 26 the Holy Synod of the UOC decided to raise donations in order to restore the churches in those parishes where they were captured by force. Almost all the UOC parishes of the UOC are gradually joining this initiative."

According to the order of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the charitable foundation "Tabor" launched the program "40 Temples". This program aims to provide church buildings for those parishes of the UOC which were deprived of the place for prayer.

With the assistance of the Foundation, a wooden church was transported from Kyiv region to Volyn.

The UOC Chancellor stressed that this event "is a testament to the unity of our Church".

"Regardless of where we are, in what region we live, we are all one in the Church of Christ – the Church, which these days the Lord handed over to His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry," said Bishop Anthony.

Head of the parish in honor of the Holy Protection Church of the village of Gribovitsa, Archpriest Igor Margita, who had arrived in Kiev with parishioners, uttered words of gratitude to all those concerned.

The priest described how the dissenters prevented the erection of the temple in every possible way.

"But with God's grace and with your help, we now have the opportunity to perform divine services in a full-fledged church," said Archpriest Igor Margita.

Besides, father Igor expressed gratitude on behalf of the administrator of Vladimir-Volyn eparchy, Metropolitan Vladimir, to Archpriest Peter Arterchuk and handed the priest an eparchial order.