Russian Church in Oxford Latest Victim in Rash of Church Attacks [UK]

Pravoslavie ^ | 3/14/22

[marshmallow]

The Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Oxford, England, was broken into and ransacked on Saturday morning.

The holy altar was especially damaged, with various holy items desecrated and stolen. Thankfully, the Holy Gifts themselves were left undisturbed, the church reports.

The church is a parish of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Sourozh Diocese, and is the latest in a rash of attacks against Russian Orthodox churches since the beginning of the fratricidal war in Ukraine last month.

Ironically, donations collected to support Ukrainian refugees were also stolen.

Parish rector Archpriest Stephen Platt writes:

I am sorry to announce that during the early hours of Saturday 12th March, the Church of St Nicholas the Wonderworker in Oxford suffered a break-in. A great deal of damage was done, the holy altar was ransacked, and various objects were stolen, including holy relics, crosses and altar vessels. Fortunately, although the holy table was interfered with, the antimension and the tabernacle containing the Holy Gifts were left undisturbed. The church safe and money boxes were forced open with violence, and the proceeds of a collection to support refugees from Ukraine was stolen. The church bookstall was burgled and stock taken.

The police have been informed and are making investigations.