Mobilized priests face pressure in military units – source

Mobilized UOC priests. Photo: Facebook / Valentyna Ilyina

Mobilized priests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) are subjected to moral pressure in military units, Orthodox journalist Valentyna Ilyina reported.

She described the situation of Fr. Oleksandr Soltys, rector of the Intercession Church in the village of Peskiv, Rivne region, who was mobilized in early August.

Initially, the priest underwent a military medical commission in the Kostopil district, where, due to heart problems, he was deemed “fit with limitations.” However, he later came under the attention of the Varash military enlistment office.

He spent a week at the Rivne training ground, and on September 7 informed his wife that he was being transferred to Kirovohrad region. After that, he did not make contact for a long time.

“Only the day before yesterday late in the evening, someone called and reported that Father Oleksandr, together with other clergymen, is there in harsh conditions and is being subjected to moral pressure,” Ilyina wrote.

The journalist called for prayerful support, public attention, and legal assistance to protect the priest and safeguard his right to serve God.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that on August 4, in the Sarny eparchy, the enlistment office detained two UOC priests. One of them was Archpriest Hryhorii Bakunets, rector of the Holy Spirit Church in the village of Mokvynski Khutory and father of three underage children. The other was Archpriest Oleksandr Soltys.

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