In a disheartening turn of events, Russian occupiers unleashed an attack on the 22nd of August, targeting the St. Teresa of the Child of Jesus Roman Catholic Church situated in the town of Skadovsk within the Kherson region of eastern Ukraine. The gravity of the situation was confirmed by Bishop Stanislav Szyrokoradiuk of Odessa-Simferopol through a solemn announcement on his Facebook page.
The incident unfolded with a group of heavily armed special forces, concealed behind masks and brandishing weapons, descending upon the peaceful enclave of the Roman Catholic chapel. Bishop Szyrokoradiuk vividly recounted the dramatic occurrence, describing how the armed forces employed forceful tactics to breach the chapel's entrance. The result was an intrusive search within the premises.
The Russian occupants, who are currently holding sway over the region, asserted that their actions were part of a meticulously planned operation aimed at quelling supposed terrorist activities. It is crucial to note that Russia's sphere of occupation encompasses territories like Crimea and segments of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, Mykolayiv, and Zaporizhzhya oblasts.
Thankfully, the chapel was unoccupied at the time, sparing potential innocent lives from being caught up in this alarming situation. Bishop Szyrokoradiuk candidly acknowledged, "Fortunately, there were no people in the chapel at the time, otherwise they all would have been captured as terrorists."
As the search within the chapel continued and access remained restricted, the Bishop expressed bewilderment at the occupiers' actions, highlighting that they even resorted to breaking windows. "Access to the chapel is denied to anyone, and the searches are ongoing. Strangely, they also broke windows," Szyrokoradiuk lamented.
The Bishop drew attention to a recurring and disturbing practice that has often been employed by occupiers – the unfounded labeling of religious sites as centers of illicit activities, such as "terrorism" or "drug dealing." These labels serve as a pretext to seize properties and effectively hinder the faithful from accessing their places of worship. Bishop Szyrokoradiuk asserted, "I believe they will find whatever they want there: weapons, explosives, you name it."
Adding an even more sinister layer to this disconcerting narrative, the Russian occupiers falsely implicated the parish pastor, branding him as "the main drug lord," and subsequently placing him on a wanted list. This groundless accusation forced the priest to seek refuge in Poland prior to the eruption of the war in February 2022. Presently, another priest oversees the parish, yet Bishop Szyrokoradiuk expressed grave concern for his safety, forbidding him from entering the church premises out of fear for his arrest and incarceration.
The Bishop's reflections took a poignant turn as he drew parallels between the current events and historical Soviet persecution. Recalling the trials faced by both Roman and Ukrainian Catholic churches during the era of communism, he lamented, "As we can see, the methods of the KGB haven't changed."
Amidst these trying times, Bishop Szyrokoradiuk called upon the community for their prayers, seeking divine intervention to curtail the reign of these unjust actions and alleviate the suffering of the people. The parishioners, who once united within the church for prayer, have been deprived of this spiritual sanctuary due to the chapel's closure enforced by the occupiers. As the Russian occupants persist in their persecution of Catholics, the Bishop urged all to join in prayer for the affected individuals and their faith.
Skadovsk, the site of this distressing incident, has been under occupation almost since the commencement of the Russian invasion. The city fell under the control of Russian troops in the early days of March 2022, marking a period of ongoing hardship and struggle for its inhabitants.
In the face of adversity, it remains imperative to uphold the spirit of unity and faith. As the world witnesses yet another chapter of religious persecution, the call for solidarity through prayer and support rings louder than ever.
