In March 2014, under pressure from the local self-defense forces, we were forced to leave the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. For a period of time, there was no place where I could settle and carry out my priestly ministry. During that time, I chose a different profession: I moved to Kyiv and started working as a plumber. We traveled to many houses where repair or construction work was being done.

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In 2015, the late Bishop Ilarion, may he rest in peace, offered me the opportunity to serve in the city of Novomyrhorod [1], where a new parish had just been established. The local community was outraged that in the Church of St. Nicholas, prayers were being said in the name of Moscow Patriarch Kirill, while active fighting was already taking place in the east of our country. A portion of the people wanted to have their own Ukrainian church.

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I arrived, we had discussions, and we held a water blessing service together with Father Ivan, my father, and Mother Svitlana. After that, I began traveling here and looking for a place to settle. We explored many options in Zlatopil [2], examining various possibilities. One of the suggestions was a corridor in the Zlatopil House of Culture, and we decided on that option.

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We set it up, painting the floors and walls together with the community and decorating the space. People brought icons, towels, and carpets. Together with Mr. Serhii Kozhevyatov, we created a temporary iconostasis with carvings. Until we gathered enough people to firmly establish our Ukrainian church here in Novomyrhorod, we continued to serve in the House of Culture. This lasted until 2023.

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Throughout this time, we continued to search for a more suitable location. At one point, we appealed to the city council for the building of the former Zlatopil Gymnasium. The structure is in a rather dilapidated state now, with trees growing on the roof, no windows, and no floors. However, we were determined to restore it, as it once housed the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Unfortunately, we could not achieve this due to a lack of support from the local authorities, even though we had already cleaned the site and boarded up the windows.

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Since we were unable to secure the necessary documents for that building, we abandoned the idea and decided to construct a new church. In 2020, after obtaining the necessary paperwork and a permit to begin construction, we started building the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We excavated the foundation pit, poured the foundation pad, built the basement, and covered it with slabs.

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However, the construction came to a halt in 2022 with the onset of the full-scale war. Currently, all available funds are being directed toward resisting Russian aggression and achieving victory.

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In 2023, there were two churches within the Novomyrhorod community that belonged to the Moscow Patriarchate, and people began questioning: why was the Ukrainian church holding its services in the corridor of the House of Culture, while the two Moscow-affiliated churches occupied traditional church buildings? Moreover, these were ancient churches, recognized as architectural landmarks. This stark injustice drew attention.

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At that point, Vadym Batij, on his own initiative, called for a meeting through Facebook to express the community's desire for the church in Zlatopil, St. Nicholas Church, to transfer to the jurisdiction of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU). The first such meeting took place in March, even though we were not yet familiar with the process for such a transition. A month later, in April, we organized a formal gathering. By July, we had obtained the full set of documents registered with state institutions and approached the church to speak with the priests of the Moscow Patriarchate who were conducting services there. They asked for a few days to collect their belongings and leave. We agreed to wait a day, and they followed through.

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In July, we entered the church and held our first service there.

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There was no overt opposition, but on the day of our meeting near the church, two elderly women walked by and said to me, “You killed someone and came here from Crimea.” I replied, “If I had done such a thing, law enforcement would have already dealt with me. You are slandering me.” I filed a statement with the police, reporting that someone was fabricating and spreading such rumors.

Over the years, much has been said about us—claims that we were not Orthodox but Catholics or even a sect. Many falsehoods and insults have been hurled our way. However, people see the difference and understand where the truth lies, distinguishing it from lies and manipulation.

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After conducting the water blessing service, consecrating the church, and banishing the "Moscow spirit" from it, we began regular liturgies. The church was in a rather neglected state. When we climbed onto the roof, we saw that the metal sheets had separated, likely torn by the wind. We repaired the roof, replaced some sections of the covering, and carried out interior renovations, including plastering and cosmetic repairs. People brought icons, as the church was empty.

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The Somov family donated part of the granite needed for the church, and we purchased the rest. Together with Oleksandr Somov, we laid granite tiles and beautified the church. We also acquired an icon of the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which depicts Ukrainian warriors—from the times of Kyivan Rus and the Cossacks to the present day. This icon is made of amber.

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In this region, most people come to church on holidays, with only a few attending Sunday services regularly. However, since we moved to the church, attendance has significantly increased. Not everyone was willing to come to the House of Culture, as they felt it was an unsuitable place for prayer, given its history as a venue for dancing and entertainment. But now, more people are coming to the church, especially during major holidays like Easter, when there were multiple circles of people around the building.

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We rarely interact with the priests of the Moscow Patriarchate. They live in their world while we are building a Ukrainian one. They continue promoting the concept of the "Russian world." In 2022, after hostilities had already begun, we went to the cemetery after Easter to conduct a memorial service. A Moscow Patriarchate priest from the Illinsky Church also came and, during his sermon, congratulated "Ukrainian, Russian, and Belarusian" women on the feast day of the Myrrh-Bearing Women.

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Unfortunately, we have had to bury many of our young men. For such a small town, this is a tremendous loss. Seeing the grief of mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters mourning their loved ones is heartbreaking. It is deeply painful to realize that this brutal war has no legitimate cause, driven only by the whims of a few who wish to erase the Ukrainian people from the face of the earth.

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We know this is not the first attempt. Our people have been oppressed on our own land, exiled to Siberia and Kolyma. From the time of Andriy Boholyubsky [3], who in 1169 came, burned Kyiv, looted it, and took our icons and relics, this historical memory lives on. Yet, some Ukrainians still attend Moscow churches and pray to icons of Andriy Boholyubsky, who is considered a saint in the Ukrainian church of the Moscow Patriarchate.

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Our services are held on Saturdays and Sundays. During the weekdays, my father and I work on our apiary, which is not small—we have about 300 beehives. It is physically demanding, but it brings joy, a sweet joy, because honey is sweet. I grew up with beekeeping and developed a deep love for bees. There's a profound sense of celebration when spring begins, and you visit the apiary to see the bees flying out, bringing pollen, and growing from a small colony into a large, thriving family.

 

[1] Novomyrhorod is a city in Ukraine, serving as the administrative center of the Novomyrhorod urban community in the Novoukrainka district of Kirovohrad Oblast.

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[2] Zlatopil (formerly known as Huliaipil, not to be confused with Huliaipole) was a former town in Kyiv Governorate. From 1939, it was part of Kirovohrad Oblast, later transferred to Cherkasy Oblast in 1954, and eventually returned to Kirovohrad Oblast. Zlatopil was the center of the Zlatopil district from 1923 to 1959. In 1959, it was merged with the city of Novomyrhorod.

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[3] Andriy Yuriyovych Boholyubsky (circa 1111–1174) was the son of Yuriy Dolgoruky and grandson of Volodymyr Monomakh. He held titles as Prince of Vyshhorod (1149–1150, 1155–1156), Peresopnytsia-Turiv Prince (1150–1151), Suzdal Prince (1156–1157), and Vladimir Prince (1157–1174). Boholyubsky is notorious for leading the first recorded sack of Kyiv in the history of Rus' in 1169, commanding a large army of 11 northern princes.