SBU hands suspicion to Metropolitan Vissarion of Ovruch

Metropolitan Vissarion of Ovruch. Photo: a screenshot of the “1Kozak” YouTube channel.

On 1 June 2023, the SBU handed over the suspicion to Metropolitan Vissarion of Ovruch and Korosten. The UOC bishop is suspected of inciting interfaith discord, reports the SBU press service.

The SBU said that a suspicion note was also handed to the secretary of the Ovruch Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

According to the investigation, Metropolitan Vissarion "personally prepared texts of pro-Kremlin leaflets and brochures" with a total circulation of 50,000 copies. Later, the secretary of the eparchy distributed these materials among the faithful of the religious community, the SBU added.

"In these 'prop leaflets' he offended the religious feelings of Ukrainians, humiliated the views of believers of other confessions and tried to form hostile attitudes towards them. ...> Based on the conclusions of expert examinations and collected evidence, both perpetrators were informed about the suspicion under Part 2 of Article 28 and Part 2 of Article 161," the agency noted.

The article provides for a fine of five hundred to one thousand untaxed minimum incomes of citizens or imprisonment of two to five years.

As reported, law enforcers announced suspicion against Metropolitan Longin of Bancheni.

Read also

TRC abducts priest in Korosten after he fled frontline Kherson region

TRC officers abducted Archpriest Pavlo Hirchenko on Sunday morning as he was on his way to church.

Epifaniy awarded with ‘Golden Trident’ at seized Cherkasy cathedral

Dumenko received an embroidered trident described by its creators as a manifesto of the Ukrainian soul.

Vinnytsia Eparchy priest dies in car crash

Archimandrite Job reposed in the Lord at the age of 63 as a result of a car accident on the evening of September 7.

Shevchuk: Demographic crisis can be solved – 60 million Ukrainians worldwide

The head of the UGCC said he is optimistic about Ukraine’s demographic problem because tens of millions of ethnic Ukrainians live around the world.

Lviv region court sentences Jehovah’s Witness to 5 years for refusing to fight

The Stryi court rejected the Jehovah’s Witness’s defense arguments that he was entitled to alternative civilian service.

Phanar head could stop church raids with a single word, says UOC hierarch

Metropolitan Theodosiy said the Ecumenical Patriarch must have understood what consequences the creation of the OCU could bring.