Photo: Wikipedia / Олег Довгаль (cc)
A recently published Persecution & Prayer Alert report had requested prayer for various churches that were forcibly closed in Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine. (To review the previously posted report, go to this page.) Further reports have since been released informing that other churches have faced similar trials.
On October 8th, a Council of Churches Baptist congregation in the city of Melitopol, located within Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region, was raided by armed men wearing military uniforms. The men threatened the pastor with a fine and demanded that the church be closed until it acquired the necessary Russian registration. The same demands were also made of the city's Central Baptist Church on October 23rd, the day it too was forced to close.
One church group that experienced opposition of particular concern is the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. On September 22nd, a court in the Donetsk Region found two priests guilty of violating Russian law by conducting missionary activities. The two church leaders, Father Khristofor Khrimli and Father Andri Chui, had been facing pressure from the Russian occupiers to transfer to the Russian Orthodox Church, but they refused.
As a result, both leaders of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine were fined the equivalent of two months' wages and given deportation orders specifying that they go "beyond the bounds of the Russian Federation," meaning an area of Ukraine not under the control of Russian forces. Since their appeal of the court's decision, the two imprisoned men have mysteriously disappeared while in detainment. When relatives attempted to take personal items to the prison for them, it was discovered that the men were no longer there. At last report, the diocese has received no information on the church leaders' whereabouts.
Pray for the safety of the two missing church leaders, wherever they may be located, and for their soon release from captivity. In addition, please intercede for their concerned loved ones and all the other believers who are experiencing religious oppression in occupied areas of Ukraine, along with the military invasion of their homes. Ask the Lord to minister His peace, protection and provision in each of their lives – and also in the lives of so many other innocent victims of war. May those endeavouring to share the love of Christ during this crisis be further strengthened and encouraged by God's Spirit, so they can serve as effective witnesses among the people of their communities – including the Russian occupants.
