Odessa, December 28, 2015
The Metropolitan of Odessa and Izmail has issued a statement to the clergy and laity of the diocese, reports Pravoslavnaya Odessa.
The message of His Eminence Agafangel, Metropolitan of Odessa and Izmail, in connection with the wave of robberies of the churches in the Odessa Diocese:
“During the holy days of the Nativity Fast, which prepares us bodily and spiritually for the Son of God’s Coming into the world, the events of the past weeks compel me to address the public with a word of concern and warning. The details of these events demonstrate perpetrators’ utter godlessness and cynicism, revealed in the criminal acts towards the churches of God and the relics held therein.
There have been around 20 robberies or attempted robberies of churches in our city and across the Odessa region over the past month. The donations, brought in by the parishioners, little by little, for the beautification of the houses of God, for helping the refugees from the conflict in Donbass and the wounded, for supporting those of our neighbors whom no one helps—all these were stolen. The offerings, given in love by the faithful to our Lord and God, and to the suffering neighbors, have been treacherously taken away by unclean hands. The jewelry ornaments, brought into the church as witnesses of God’s miracles of healing, and placed before miracle-working icons, have been viciously torn off and carried away in an unknown direction.
Taking advantage of the fact that the church territory has always been the place of utmost sincerity and confidence, the perpetrators of sacrilege have trampled these centuries-old foundations underfoot, violating the sanctity of the offering to our God. When caught, these impious people chose to utter blasphemies that no Christian should ever hear. Not only were priests and church servants abused by these criminals, but the very holiness of the Church of God was attacked by these madmen who had no fear of God or humanity.
These people who break into churches under the cover of darkness, sawing off the metal grilles and stealing the parish offerings, are not compelled to commit these desperate deeds by extreme poverty. These blasphemers are cold-blooded shameless and cynical robbers, and have neither fear of God nor a sense of the holy.
The Holy Scriptures and Church history show us that even robbers have feared Divine retribution, and tried to beg forgiveness in the church. To our deep regret, those who have undertaken church thefts in the past weeks do not seem to have this fear.
I declare that the people committing these acts of sacrilege, stretching their sinful hands towards the holy things of the Church, are, by their own will, cutting themselves off from Divine Grace, plunging their souls into the abyss of hell. Fear, poverty, illnesses and sorrows – all these will be their rewards. To the third and fourth generation their children will bear the indelible mark of damnation; they will groan and moan being born from an iniquitous womb.
I decree that the priests hearing confessions should not absolve penitents from the sin of sacrilege, since the silver gained in this way was gained to damnation. Only those who, through the great providence of our Lord, through their tearful repentance till the end of their days, through their tireless labor and contrition, could hope to be released from this sin on the deathbed.
So, brothers and sisters, I call upon you to strengthen your prayers “for the stability of the holy churches of God”, and for the enlightenment of those who are still capable of hearing this word of warning. And be vigilant yourselves, take good care of the churches where you hear the Word of God, where your sins are washed away, and you are enlightened by God’s grace! Our Lord, the Foundation of the Church, will not let the minions and henchmen of hell to prevail against it!
+ Agafangel, Metropolitan of Odessa and Izmail”
