In Bakhmut, a UOC priest saves hundreds of people risking his life

Archpriest Oleksiy Polchenko, rector of the St. George Church of the UOC in the city of Bakhmut (Stupky station), did not leave his place of service, which turned out to be at the epicenter of hostilities, and saved hundreds of people. This was reported by the Information and Education Department of the UOC with reference to bahmut.in.ua.

“He said that he couldn’t do otherwise, because his parishioners are here, he served in the church for 15 years,” a volunteer woman who helped the priest told the publication. “He stayed for the sake of people, although he had the opportunity to leave more than once. He was capable of performing this feat, hit by the fire more than once, but God, seeing his good heart and intentions, kept him alive.

During the period of Russian aggression, about 200 people found refuge in the St. George's Church.

“Some came, others left. Volunteers from the Red Cross helped us a lot, in Poland they raised funds for generators, the mayor also helped. Mats were taken from the school so that people could sleep, there was a stove, where preparing food. Father Oleksiy tried to create good conditions in difficult moments, as far as possible. There could have been 20 air attacks on the territory of the temple a day, but there were no victims,” the volunteer said.