Mage and OCU-campaigner Veliar becomes an SBU witness in Kokhanovska case
Mage Veliar campaigning for the OCU at Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. April 2023. Photo: UOJ
On March 5, 2025, the Holosiivskyi District Court of Kyiv held a hearing throughout the day in the case of Viktoria Kokhanovska. According to her Telegram channel, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) presented B. Orishchenko (known as Mage Veliar/Belial) as a witness, who had previously actively campaigned for the OCU near the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.
"His testimony clearly differed from the actual events that took place near Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. Therefore, a statement is being prepared requesting the initiation of criminal cases for knowingly false testimony and religious intolerance toward UOC believers (Articles 161 and 384 of the Criminal Code)," the message states.
Two years ago, Orishchenko, who calls himself "Mage Veliar" as well as an "author of magical books and cards, demonologist, and tantrist," openly campaigned for the OCU on Channel 5.
"We want this place (Lavra) to be under the canonical Ukrainian Church led Metropolitan Epifaniy," the magician stated. "And you are a non-canonical church."
At the time, other provocateurs who had come with Mage Veliar to the Far Caves carried a banner reading "They sell relics here." One of the activists, who seemed particularly fixated on the relics, wore clothing emblazoned with the word "OHUENO" (a slang expletive in Russian and Ukrainian).
Previously, the UOJ reported that the Ministry of Culture created a commission to inspect the holy relics in Kyiv Pechersk Lavra.
Read also
Kosovo to enact law restricting Serbian Church, experts say
Analysts warn that the new "Law on Foreigners" in Kosovo could restrict the presence of clergy, believers' access to shrines, and increase pressure on the Serbian community.
Congress Speaker: Demand to introduce Sharia law in USA is a serious problem
The Speaker of the House of Representatives stated that there is growing concern in society about attempts to impose Islamic law, which is incompatible with the American Constitution.
UK government introduces restrictions on "anti-Muslim hostility"
UK authorities have adopted a new definition of "Islamophobia" which, according to experts, could provide Muslims with special protection and restrict freedom of speech.
Dumenko brings icon in Church Slavonic to Ministry of Health
Epifaniy presented cardiologists with an Intercession icon, with inscriptions in Church Slavonic, which his structure calls a "sign of the Moscow tradition".
ISIS supporters carries out terrorist attack at anti-Islamic protest in NY
Near the home of New York's Muslim mayor, radicals threw two makeshift bombs at protesters during an anti-Islamic rally.
Hryshchuk: If UOC hands over its church itself, angle grinders aren't needed
An OCU chaplain called on UOC believers to accept the loss of the shrine for the sake of their own "enlightenment".