Page 4 - Odesa Diocese News Today

A Russian missile destroyed the central altar of the Transfiguration Cathedral in Odesa, as a result of which the temple was partially destroyed. — Ukrinform.

The Russian missile hit right on the central altar of the temple.

By attacking the most important religious building in the city, a church aligned with Moscow, the Kremlin has further alienated remaining pro-Russian Ukrainians from one of the last remaining links with Russia.

Archbishop Viktor of Artsiz, vicar of the Odesa Diocese, has sent a letter to Patriarch Kirill (Gundyaev) of the Russian Orthodox Church and all members of the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church in connection with the strike of Russian troops on Odesa on Sunday night.

On December 9, a court in south central Ukraine imposed movement restrictions on orthodox priest Metropolitan Joasaph of Kirovohrad, suspected of having spread pro-Russian views and literature. The Orthodox church of Ukraine established its autonomy from Moscow four years ago. Clerics loyal to the Russian Patriarchate are increasingly subject to searches and accusations by security services and prosecutors.