Story By: Gheorghi Caraseni, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News 

Video Credit: CEN/@riamelitopol

This is the moment two alleged fraudsters apparently dressed in religious attire collect cash for ‘the church’ in a busy city centre.

The incident was filmed in the city of Melitopol in the south-eastern Ukrainian region of Zaporozhia Oblast and church officials confirmed that clergymen are not allowed to ask for church donations in the street.

Reports said that residents were approached by two men standing at a market entrance in religious attire while claiming to be collecting money for the church.

In the footage, filmed by onlookers and widely shared on social media, two men in religious garb are seen collecting money in the busy city centre.

One of the alleged fraudsters splashes passersby in what appears to be holy water as a male resident drops cash into the collection box.

The church dean Father Maxim told local media: “Representatives are prohibited from begging for money for the church.

“No one dressed as a priest and asking for money on the streets belongs to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. Most likely, they are crooks in robes.”

It is unclear whether the local authorities are investigating the incident.

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