Ex-head of SBU who opposed UOC is accused of treason
Former head of the SBU Vasily Gritsak. Photo: ZN.UA
The Pechersky District Court of Kiev ordered the Prosecutor General to open criminal proceedings on high treason against the former head of the Security Service of Ukraine Vasily Gritsak, reports “Zerkalo Nedeli”.
In particular, representatives of the “Arey” engineering group filed a lawsuit against V. Gritsak because of the raider seizure in 2016 of the territory of the ATEK plant of Kiev. According to the plaintiffs, "The result of the crime of V. Gritsak is the looting and destruction of a defence enterprise during the war".
Vasily Gritsak is known for his negative attitude towards the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The Security Service of Ukraine, headed by Gritsak, searched the abbot of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra, Metropolitan Pavel, called for interrogation the bishops of the UOC to force them to participate in the “Unification Council”. The clergy of the UOC were also accused of treason.
In addition, during his leadership of the SBU, information brochures were issued against the UOC. Then Vasily Gritsak explained the “need” for the dissemination of such information by the fact that “targeted inspirations by the Russian special services of interfaith conflicts in Ukraine, combined with provocations of direct terrorist action, could become the reason for an open military invasion of the Russian armed forces in our country”.
Also, Vasily Gritsak argued that the riots near the churches of the UOC are organized by special services of the Russian Federation to destabilize the situation in the country before the elections.
Read also
Common Easter date with Orthodox still a long way off – Vatican rep
The Vatican’s ambassador to Ukraine said that dialogue on synchronizing the calendar is ongoing, but no tangible progress has been made.
Persecuted UOC сommunity сelebrates its patronal feast in Mali Dorohostai
In the Rivne Eparchy, the persecuted community of the Church of St. Spyridon of Trimythous marked its patronal feast.
Catholic monastery in Germany to open escape room for visitors
The Norbertines of Roggenburg have devised a way to attract visitors as the abbey prepares to celebrate its 900th anniversary.
Cherkasy court extends preventive measure against Metropolitan Theodosiy
The judge left unchanged the preventive measure imposed on the UOC hierarch in four criminal cases.
UOC parish in Lisbon celebrates 5th anniversary of its founding
The community of the Church of St. Spyridon of Trimythous in Lisbon marked its patronal feast and the fifth anniversary of its founding.
Pope says true Christians can have no enemies
Pope Leo XIV reflects on martyrdom as a “birth into heaven” and on Christmas joy a the choice of "justice even at great cost,” making celebration possible even amid suffering.