Pastor-pedophile from Mariupol imprisoned for 13 years

November 14, Primorsky District Court of Mariupol convicted the pastor for seducing and raping minor girls, reports the press service of the Prosecutor's Office of Donetsk region.

In total, according to the investigation, the pastor raped and seduced 13 girls.

The case was heard in court for the second time. The previous sentence, according to which the offender was sentenced to 10 years in prison, was overturned on the Prosecutor's Office appeal because of the leniency of the penalties imposed.

"From 1996 to 2012 the 65-year-old pastor was a bishop of the church of Jesus Christ in the city of Mariupol. From 1999 to 2012 he seduced and forced to have sexual intercourse in natural and unnatural ways with minor and young girls who attended the church. For this, he promised the children absolution," reported the press service of the Prosecutor's Office.

For offenses under articles "the rape of a minor or of a young child", "forcible sexual assault by unnatural means, committed against a minor and a young child" and "seduction of minors" the accused was sentenced to 13 years in prison.

As reported by the UOJ, a Brazilian priest who was the subject of a film about pedophiles hanged himself in prison.

Read also

Greek Archdiocese of America creates Folk Dance and Cultural Ministry

The American Archdiocese of the Constantinople Patriarchate has created the Folk Dance and Culture Department to preserve Greek traditions.

Bishops Council of Armenian Church to be held in Austria over govt. pressure

The session of the highest body of the Armenian Apostolic Church will take place in February in Sankt-Pölten instead of Etchmiadzin.

Request about Baptism of the Lord on Jan 19 tops Ukrainian trends on Google

Ukrainians massively googled for congratulations and information about the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord on January 19.

OCU awards yet another order to Yurash, Ukraine’s ambassador to the Vatican

Epifaniy Dumenko awarded Andrii Yurash with an order.

ECHR to consider lawsuit against placement of icons in Greek courts

Strasbourg will examine an appeal from an atheistic organization in Greece challenging the placement of Christian religious symbols in the country's courtrooms.

Holy Spirit Church of UOC damaged by shelling in Dnipropetrovsk region

The Holy Spirit Church, which is an exact copy of the Resurrection Church in Foros, was damaged.