Archimandrite Nil Semenets, rector of the Holy Trinity Parish of the UOC in Pereyaslav, told the UOJ that on the night of May 30 to June 1, 2023, unknown people dressed in military uniform cut off the locks on the doors of the Trinity and Assumption churches of the UOC.

“Five locks were cut down: one from the entrance to the church territory, three locks from the doors of the temple, and one more from the entrance to the bell tower. They hung up theirs right away. They did it in about four minutes,” said the archimandrite.

Archimandrite Nil also noted that since the morning, a terrorist defense has been on duty around the temple and does not allow either believers or clergy to the shrine.

“At 5 o’clock in the morning, the terrorist defense came, surrounded the temple, they didn’t let anyone in. They (terror defense – Ed.) are standing now and watching so that I do not cut off their locks and do not go into the temple. But no one sealed the temples,” Father Nil added.

The rector of the parish said that the police interrogated him and other eyewitnesses of the attempted raider seizure of the temple. Later, the security forces suggested that believers “remain neutral until Tuesday, June 6, do not enter the temple, but pray on the street in order to try to negotiate later” with opponents.

Father Nil emphasized that he would continue to perform divine services on the street near the Trinity Church blocked by the terrorist defense.