Khmelnytskyi bishop prays with Zastavky believers whose church was seized

On February 8, 2025, Metropolitan Victor of Khmelnytskyi and Starokostiantyniv celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Trinity Parish in the village of Zastavky, Krasyliv Deanery, according to a report by the press service of the Khmelnytskyi Eparchy on its Facebook page.

Currently, the religious community regularly holds services in a rural house adapted for worship. This is due to the fact that in 2024, the church, built by the UOC religious community, was forcibly seized by supporters of the OCU.

Metropolitan Victor was concelebrated by Archpriest Oleksandr Rybchynskyi, Secretary of the Eparchy; Archpriest Vitalii Dunets, Dean of the Krasyliv District; Parish rector Archpriest Vasyl Khiliuk; and clergy of the deanery.

During the service, special prayers were offered for Ukraine’s defenders, for peace in the country, and for all those who are suffering and displaced due to the war.

After the dismissal, the bishop addressed the faithful with a sermon, thanking them for their steadfastness in the Church of Christ and for their communal prayer on this festive occasion.

Following the service, the bishop and clergy joined the parishioners for a shared meal outdoors in the courtyard.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the OCU seized the church in Zastavky despite the community’s decision to remain with the UOC.