Metropolitan Jonathan's lawyer discusses bishop's exchange to Russia
Metropolitan Jonathan. Photo: Belarusian Orthodox Church
Ihor Chudovsky, the lawyer of Metropolitan Jonathan (Yeletskikh) of Tulchyn and Bratslav, said that the bishop was exchanged to Russia for several prisoners of war after his sentence, reports Glavcom.
"Serving the sentence for the heart-sick metropolitan was equivalent to the death penalty. The defense did everything possible to ease the fate of the elderly sick man and the Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers who were in captivity," explained the archbishop's lawyer.
Let us recall that on June 18, the head of the Tulchyn Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Jonathan (Yeletskikh), who had been sentenced to five years with confiscation of property, refused to be included in the exchange fund as a prisoner of war for transfer to Russia. However, on June 22, the bishop was released at the request of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church. The authorities did not provide official comments regarding this exchange.
As the UOJ reported, in March 2024, Metropolitan Jonathan suffered a stroke.
Read also
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.
UOC priests take part in celebrations at Romania’s Putna Monastery
Clergy of the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Eparchy took part in a festive service at the ancient shrine of the Romanian Orthodox Church.