UOC priest who spent 5 months in detention delivers 3,000 paskas to inmates

Archpriest Serhii Chertylin and Hierodeacon Aristarkh (Karahovnyk). Photo: UOC

On the eve of the Pascha celebration, clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church delivered 3,000 Paschal kulichi (traditional Easter cakes) to the Kyiv Lukyanivka Detention Center. Archpriest Serhii Chertylin told the UOC press service that the initiative was organized by the Mykolaiv International Charitable Foundation.

The Paschal gifts were delivered by Fr. Serhii himself, who had previously spent five months in detention and was released on bail in August 2024.

Before delivery, the kulichi were blessed on the grounds of the All Saints of War Church in Kyiv. Then, together with Hierodeacon Aristarkh (Karahovnyk), the priest took them to the detention center and handed them over to the administration. On Pascha, the cakes were distributed to 3,000 inmates along with greetings for the Resurrection of Christ.

“It is very important for those who are there to feel that they are not forgotten by the world – especially by those who care for souls and for the salvation of people,” Fr. Serhii said.

He noted that the Mykolaiv charitable foundation has been working with inmates for many years. Active support for the initiative was provided by the Primate of the UOC, the Kyiv Metropolia, the Vvedensky Monastery, the All Saints of War parish, and other religious communities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, as well as church patrons.

Illya Illiych Shalenko, Director of Development for the St. Nicholas Charitable Foundation, expressed gratitude to everyone who took part and wished good health to all the supporters and speedy release for the inmates.

Hierodeacon Aristarkh noted that this action was part of a larger program and invited everyone willing to help the inmates of detention centers to join their efforts.

Earlier, the UOJ reported on the legal proceedings involving Orthodox journalists and Archpriest Serhii Chertylin.

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