Sloviansk, June 16, 2014
The Church of St. Seraphim of Sarov in the Cherevkovka micro-district (area) of Sloviansk was shelled on the night of June 16. The chapel and the refectory are completely destroyed. At least three or four shells hit the church courtyard. According to the volunteer corps members, the Cherevkovka district was shelled by 122-mm Howitzers D-30, reports the website of the Sloviansk and Horlivka Diocese with the reference to Lifenews.
Head of St. Alexander Nevsky Deanery of Sloviansk Archpriest Nikolai Fomenko has confirmed this information, but due to a poor telephone connection the details have not yet been verified.
This is not the first time that Ukrainian servicemen have destroyed civilian targets and fired at churches.
On May 26, a woman was killed as a result of a mortar explosion during the shelling of the Artema micro-district of Sloviansk by the “Ukrainian” National Guard militants. The woman was standing near the Church of the “Sovereign” (or “Reigning”) Icon of the Mother of God. The church was also damaged: windows were broken and one side of the front was damaged by mortar splinters; the church fencing was destroyed. On the feast of Pentecost the Church of the Holy Spirit, situated in the city center, was shelled.
In spite of the ongoing warfare and a real hazard to life, priests continue to celebrate services at Sloviansk churches and people come to pray there.
