Patriarch Kirill: Met. Jonathan sentenced for calls for the unity of Rus
Patriarch Kirill. Photo: Moscow Patriarchate
The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, made a statement regarding the decision of the Vinnytsia court to sentence Metropolitan Jonathan of Tulchyn to a 5-year imprisonment. The statement was published on the website of the Moscow Patriarchate.
According to Patriarch Kirill, the UOC bishop was sentenced for calling for the spiritual unity of Holy Rus, praying for peace and condemning the unrighteousness of schism.
He said that he personally knows Metropolitan Jonathan "from the years of his studies and labours at the Leningrad Theological Academy", and "back in the late 1980s the state security agencies of the atheist state unsuccessfully tried to intimidate him".
The head of the Russian Orthodox Church called the accusations against the Tulchin bishop "absolutely null and void" and the evidence "falsified".
Patriarch Kirill once again calls on the international community, religious and political leaders and human rights organisations "to pay attention to the purposeful policy of the Ukrainian authorities aimed at destroying the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the ongoing unpunished persecution of its hierarchs and clerics, monastics and laypeople".
As earlier reported, Metropolitan Jonathan was sentenced to five years in prison.
Read also
President’s Office pledges “not to close a single church”
Olena Kovalska compared the authorities’ approach to the UOC with requirements imposed on businesses.
Congresswoman: What is occuring in Ukraine is clear persecution of Christians
Anna Paulina Luna warned that if persecution of Christians in other countries is ignored today, tomorrow repression against believers could begin in the United States.
UOC Chancellor: Today’s church raids are a carbon copy of 90s raider schemes
Metropolitan Anthony noted that such seizures are often accompanied by violence, beatings of clergy and parishioners, and bloodshed.
Budanov lights first candle of Jewish Hanukkah
The head of the Defence Ministry’s Main Intelligence Directorate took part in a Jewish religious ceremony.
ROCOR hierarch speaks about persecution of UOC at rally near Congress
Bishop Theodosy called on American lawmakers to pay attention to violations of religious freedom in Ukraine.
Volyn RC deputy demand inspection of UOC churches at state institutions
Andrii Bokoch is calling for an inspection of the affiliation of all churches and chapels in Volyn located on the premises of state and medical institutions.