Community of the Transfiguration Church of the OCU in the village. Reshnevka of the Ternopil region refused the deceased parishioner a funeral service due to arrears for the renovation of the building. The priest decided not to go against the community, and buried the dead woman at home, writes Segodnia.

The deceased Elena was buried at home, because the family has not paid the so-called “temple tax” since 2015 because of their daughter’s cancer, the newspaper writes. The family does not have enough funds.

The headman and the community set a condition – there will be a funeral service if the family pays off the debts – 100 hryvnia from each family member per month for 6 years. According to the headman, this was the decision of the community.

The priest explained that he could not go against the community. “What depended on me – I did everything absolutely to the last iota that was necessary. At what hour they wanted, I came to that hour. When they wanted a requiem, then I served,” said the rector of the Transfiguration Cathedral, Nikolai Kucher.