Priest in Odesa Region Refused to Hold Funeral for Fallen Defender: What Happened.

According to inkorr.com: In the village of Novoselivka in the Odesa region, a farewell was held for the fallen defender of Ukraine, Flaviy Lianko. Local residents planned to hold a memorial service in the church but were refused. This was reported by a villager, Angela Sirbu, on her Facebook page, according to 'Glavcom'.

Due to the refusal, the relatives and fellow villagers had to conduct the soldier's funeral outside the church gates.

The rector of the Holy Intercession Church of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine in Sarata, Vladyslav Shiman, explained on Facebook that the local priest made the decision not to allow the burial inside.

The Fate of Warriors in Churches

Flaviy Lianko was born in Moldova, served in the French Foreign Legion, and returned to Ukraine to defend its territory. During combat operations in Zaporizhzhia region in 2023, he went missing. At the time of his disappearance, he was 27 years old.

Similar cases of churches refusing to hold funerals for fallen defenders have occurred in other villages as well. In Zadubrivka and Chorna Tysa, there were similar situations where priests did not allow the bodies of the deceased to enter the churches for the funeral.

These events highlight the difficult situation in which churches refuse to conduct rites for defenders, causing outrage among the relatives and fellow villagers of the fallen warriors.

The refusal to conduct rites for fallen soldiers evokes deep emotions and resonances in society. This problem not only affects the families of the deceased but also broadly reflects the church's attitude towards the military and their merits in defending the country. The situation requires careful consideration and discussion within the community.