Court of Appeal to examine the evidence of Metropolitan Jonathan's guilt
Metropolitan Jonathan near the courthouse. Photo: the Tulchyn Eparchy
In the Vinnytsia Court of Appeal, the first hearing in the case of Metropolitan Jonathan (Yeletskykh) of Tulchyn and Bratslav was held, reports the press service of the Tulchyn Eparchy.
"The court rejected the request of the defence to challenge the judges, but decided to examine all the evidence of the Vinnytsia City Court regarding the commission of criminal offences by Metropolitan Jonathan," the message of the eparchy says.
Metropolitan's lawyer Ihor Chudovsky said that the charges against Metropolitan Jonathan are groundless and politicised.
"The case against Metropolitan Jonathan is a case against the Orthodox faith, against freedom of speech, against justice. It is based on falsified evidence, testimony under pressure and stretched interpretations. Its purpose is to discredit and destrиct one of the active hierarchs of the UOC, who did not submit to political interests and did not betray his faith. Its goal is to scare and intimidate all those who do not agree with the state policy in church matters," Ihor Chudovsky said.
As reported, Metropolitan Jonathan of Tulchyn and Bratslav appealed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with a demand to set up a special commission to study the abuses of the prosecution in the criminal case launched against him.
Read also
Dumenko: The enemy has destroyed Ukranian liturgical language for centuries
Epifaniy assured that "imperial invaders" burned Ukrainian liturgical literature.
TRC releases previously detained priest of UOC's Ovruch Eparchy
Believers are thanked for their support and prayers.
Vance: A broken culture tends to turn young people into androgynous idiots
U.S. Vice President stated that modern society seeks to erase differences between genders, shaping people "who think the same, talk the same, and act the same."
In Volyn, UOC priests receive gratitude from AFU for volunteering
The clergy noted that they have always been supported by parishioners and communities willing to share their last resources.
Vance: We don't worry about earthly rewards but how we're doing before God
The Vice President of America shared that he is doing his best to follow God’s will.
Vance: Death is a bad thing, but losing your soul is much more terrible
"The fundamental tenant of the Christian faith is that the Son of God became man, He died and then He raised Himself from the dead," the U.S. Vice President reminded Americans.