Only seven parishes of the OCU (UOC-KP) and four clerics remained in the annexed Crimea. This was stated by the lawyer of the Regional Center for Human Rights Nikolai Kikkas, reports QIRIМ.News.
In 2014, the diocese of the UOC-KP numbered 45 parishes on the territory of the Crimean Peninsula, 26 churches, there were 14 clergy in the Crimean diocese. To date, there are only seven parishes, eight temple premises and only four clergymen,” the lawyer said.
Moreover, according to Kikkas, there is a case when a priest is forced to travel to the peninsula because he cannot stay there permanently.
The priest serves on a rotational basis, since he cannot stay on the territory of Crimea, because he does not have an occupation passport. He is forced to travel from mainland Ukraine to carry out activities, the occupiers continue to oust the clergy and believers from the peninsula, said the lawyer.