UPTsMP PARISH OF SHEPETOVKA DIOCESE TRANSFERS TO KIEV PATRIARCHATE
Press Service of Khmelnitsky Diocese, 22 May 2015
Archpriest Stepan Makovsky, dean of the Belogorie district, reported in a memo addressed to the ruling bishop, Metropolitan of Khmelnitsky and Kamenets-Podolsk Antony, that today, 22 May, when the Orthodox Church honors the memory of the transfer of the relics of St. Nicholas the Miracleworker from Lycia [Turkey] to the Italian city of Bari, a meeting of the local rural religious community in the village of Stavishchany in Belogorie district was held. On the agenda was a single question: determination of the religious jurisdiction of believers of the village.
The side of the UPTsKP was represented by Archpriest Stepan Makovsky, with the blessing of the ruling bishop. The other side, the UPTsMP, was represented by the local dean, Archpriest Alexander Teravsky, and the local rector, Archpriest Vasily Mikhailiuk, with the blessing of its ruling bishop, Archbishop of Shepetovka and Slavuta Panteleimon.
Clergymen from both confessions described their jurisdiction briefly for believers. Each had the right to persuade people to his point of view. The meeting proceeded under the chairmanship of a local farmer, Vladimir Petrovich Matviits, who is a patron of the construction of churches in the district and accordingly an authoritative person for the peasants. Everything was decided by simple, open voting. It was suggested that the clergymen stand on either side of the chairman. Whoever wanted to stay with the UPTsMP went to the corresponding priest and whoever wanted to transfer to UPTsKP approached Father Stepan Makovsky.
The overwhelming majority chose the UPTs of the Kiev patriarchate and just a few remained with the representatives of the Moscow patriarchate. Local residents summed up that the "Russian World" came to an end in this village. This parish also includes the village of Kashchentsy, which expressed solidarity with Stavishchany. (tr. by PDS, posted 22 May 2015)
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