Another UOC priest mobilized in Volyn

UOC priest Petro Cholak. Photo: t.me/kozakTv1

On October 25, the dean of the Novovolynsk district of the Volodymyr-Volyn Diocese of the UOC, Father Petro Cholak, was forcibly mobilized in Lutsk. This was reported by the KozakTv1 Telegram channel, citing its sources.

"UOC clergy were detained by representatives of the Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center (TRC), placed in a van, and taken to the third department of the Volodymyr-Volynsk TRC, where he was informed of his mobilization. After this, Father Petro was sent for training at a military range," the message reads.

It is noted that the priest presented all necessary documents at the TRC, confirming his clerical status: a certificate, an ordination certificate, and an extract from the registry indicating his position as the head of a religious community.

"According to our information, the TRC did not respond in any way to the fact that, according to canon law, an Orthodox priest cannot hold a weapon. They did not offer alternative service. Moreover, they insist that the priest take up arms, arguing that 'there are priests who have agreed to this,'" added Orthodox journalists.

As the UOJ previously reported, on October 2, the Khust Diocese of the UOC published a message urging prayer for another UOC priest, Archpriest Vasyl Rosokha, who, according to his wife Marina's post on Facebook, was mobilized recently.

Read also

Georgian Patriarch congratulates the world on Victory Day

Patriarch Ilia II recalled the feat of victory and called for peace for the sake of future generations.

Metropolitan to Cherkasy mayor: When justice returns – you will answer

"You could steal quietly and not fight against God," the UOC hierarch reminded Bondarenko of the well-known accusations against him.