UOC Chancellor detained for several hours at checkpoint near Kyiv

Metropolitan Anthony at prayer standing in the Lavra. Photo: Facebook Metropolitan Anthony

On May 6, 2023, law enforcement officers detained Metropolitan Anthony at a checkpoint near Kyiv, because of which he could not get to the Liturgy at the stavropegic St. George Monastery in the city of Horodnytsia (Zhytomyr region). The bishop spoke about this at a sermon in the St. Agapit of Pechersk Church of the Kyiv Caves Lavra.

The metropolitan said that he left at 5:30, but managed to get only to the first checkpoint, where the customs service began to check his and the clergy’s documents. After the law enforcement officer entered Metropolitan Anthony's passport data into the database, the car was detained. The police present at the checkpoint began to search the car and personal belongings of the hierarch. But even after the search, he was not allowed to leave. Moreover, they tried to take his phone for verification. However, Metropolitan Anthony said that he would do it only after the decision of the court. After an hour of waiting, the bishop called a police patrol. On the phone, the police told him that he had problems – his name is included in the Myrotvorets (Peacemaker – Trans. Note) base.

“I was included in this database many years ago, even under Poroshenko, for criticizing the OCU,” said Metropolitan Anthony. “I asked the police if the data of this website serve as a ground for the actions of the police. After all, according to the Constitution, the Church is separated from the state.”

But even after a second search, the Metropolitan was not released. He was told that he needed to wait for a conversation with a person "from the special service." After the arrival of the patrol service, the bishop wrote a statement about the illegal detention, and only after that, he was given his passport back. All these events lasted for more than 1.5 hours, as a result of which he no longer had time to get to Horodnytsia. Metropolitan Anthony had to return to Kyiv and serve the Liturgy in the Lavra.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that Metropolitan Theodosiy was placed under house arrest.

Read also

After Chernivtsi mass brawl, Ukraine urges Romanian Church to recognize OCU

The Ambassador of Ukraine to Romania demands church recognition amid the seizure of churches and the beating of priests in Bukovyna.