Maliuk: Based on SBU materials, 19 clerics of UOC stripped of citizenship

SBU chief Vasyl Maliuk. Photo: interfax.com.ua

Based on the materials of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the authorities have stripped 19 clerics of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of their Ukrainian citizenship, the head of the Security Service of Ukraine, Vasyl Maliuk, said in an interview with interfax.com.ua.

According to him, the Special Service opened criminal proceedings against 61 clerics and "courts have already issued seven verdicts against individual clerics who sided with the enemy".

"The presence of a cassock and a censer is not an aggravating circumstance, but it does not exempt from criminal liability either," Maliuk said. “FSB agents in cassocks have no place in a country at war. Let the traitors not even dream of 'atoning' for their sins.”

As reported, two months ago the SBU reported that it had opened "about 60" criminal proceedings against UOC representatives and the seven court verdicts mentioned.

Read also

TRC abducts rector of community in Sutkivtsi, Khmelnytskyi region

Archpriest Volodymyr Stefanyshyn has already been taken to a military training ground.

Church celebrates feast of Holy Foremost Apostles Peter and Paul

On July 12, the Feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul, the Apostles' Fast (Peter's Fast) comes to an end for Orthodox Christians.

UGCC cleric criticizes OCU head for awarding Greek Catholic officials

Hieromonk Yustyn Boiko of the Lviv Archeparchy called the awarding of church honors to officials a profanation and cited the example of an OCU order presented to a Greek Catholic official.

Expert who found no defamation in Dumenko’s remarks to face disciplinary action

An Interior Ministry research center has confirmed disciplinary measures against the expert whose findings supported what the Metropolitan’s representatives described as unfounded accusations by the OCU head against Metropolitan Theodosiy.

European Parliament condemns forced Islamization of children in Pakistan

The European Parliament has called on Pakistan to establish a mechanism to protect Christian families.

Church of the Presentation damaged by shelling in Russia’s Kursk Region

The newly built church in the village of Kulbaki, Glushkovo District, was completely gutted by fire after being struck by a projectile.