Russian Forces Seize Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Tokmak in Occupied Zaporizhzhia Region
On April 12, the Feast of the Resurrection of Christ, representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate once again committed an act of aggression against the faithful of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in the temporarily occupied territories of Zaporizhzhia Oblast. In the city of Tokmak, clergy of the Moscow Patriarchate unlawfully seized the Church of Saints Peter and Paul and barred local parishioners from praying there.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, condemned the seizure of the church, emphasizing its particular cynicism on the day of Christ’s Resurrection: “This is blasphemy against the Risen Lord—the Prince of Peace! And on the feast of Easter, no less.”
The official statement from the Donetsk Exarchate of the UGCC notes that systematic persecution of the faithful continues in the occupied territories. Those who dare to resist or defend their right to freedom of religion are persecuted by the occupying authorities and sentenced to up to 15 years in prison—regardless of age or state of health.
One such courageous person is Ms. Svitlana Loy. Despite threats and intimidation, she regularly attended the church, prayed, cleaned the grounds, and cared for church property.
“Particularly outrageous is the ban on local parishioners from attending their own church, while outsiders blatantly pose as ‘parishioners.’ This once again confirms the systematic and deliberate nature of religious persecution in the occupied territories, where the right to freedom of conscience and religion is being grossly violated,” the Exarchate’s statement reads.
Such actions, as emphasized in the statement, testify not only to contempt for human dignity but also to a systematic policy of displacing the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church from Russian-occupied territories. At the same time, examples of faithfulness and courage shown by people like Ms. Svitlana are a testament to an unbreakable spirit and a living faith that does not yield to pressure.
“In these circumstances, it is especially important to preserve unity, support one another in prayer, and not lose hope. The Feast of Christ’s Resurrection, like our national history, testifies that truth and freedom, even if temporarily suppressed, ultimately prevail.”
The UGCC Department for Information
