Mukachevo Eparchy cleric fined for criticizing OCU

Archpriest Vasyl Yuryna. Photo: M-Studio TV company

In Zakarpattia, Archpriest Vasyl Yuryna, head of the publishing department of the Mukachevo Diocese, was fined for “inciting religious hatred.” The Mukachevo City District Court found the cleric guilty. He is to pay a fine of 3,400 UAH, as well as 22,700 UAH to cover the cost of expert evaluations.

According to the court ruling, Fr. Vasyl incited hatred in the following instances:

• He posted a video on Facebook featuring one of the OCU clerics, commenting: “Listen carefully and analyze this raider!”
• He “posed rhetorical questions aimed at reinforcing the notion of the OCU metropolitan’s hypocrisy by verbally rejecting the legitimacy of the OCU and claiming that the OCU’s activities contradict Christianity.”
• He shared a repost containing the phrase: “the Phanar society known as the "'holy church of Ukraine'– OCU.”
• He criticized OCU representatives for “their inconsistency in promoting Ukrainian as the church language, since they themselves conduct services in Russian.”
• He stated that due to its unlawful actions, the OCU “does not fulfill the mission of the Church and merely hides behind Christian values.”

During the court hearing, the priest admitted his guilt and entered into a plea agreement with the prosecutor.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that a UOC priest from the Shepetivka Eparchy was sentenced to four years in prison.

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