Lawyers ask for help for mobilized priest who deserted army

Archpriest Vitaly Agafonov. Photo: Priest's Facebook

The law office of Archpriest Nikita Chekman has appealed to the faithful with a request to help Archpriest Vitaliy Agafonov, a cleric of the Transfiguration of the Savior Cathedral in Nikopol of the Kryvyi Rih eparchy of the UOC, who is currently being held in custody on a guardhouse on charges of desertion.

In November of last year, Fr. Vitaliy was mobilized into the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as a rifleman-sniper. However, the priest was unable to carry out such service.

“The priestly conscience of Fr. Vitaliy did not allow him to take up arms, which forced him to leave his place of service,” the lawyers’ statement says.

After his detention, the court set bail at 266,240 hryvnias as a preventive measure. The lawyers stress that this is an unusual decision. “Setting bail under such an article during martial law is an extremely rare occurrence,” the bureau notes, emphasizing that this opportunity should be used to secure the priest’s release.

For Fr. Vitaliy’s family, the amount is beyond their means, which is why the lawyers have appealed to the faithful for help. They also point to a systemic problem faced by clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

“According to the canons of the Church, clergy are not permitted to take up weapons. However, a situation has now developed in which priests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church are effectively deprived of the opportunity to serve as military chaplains or to receive the deferral from mobilization provided for by law,” the lawyers emphasize.

The faithful are asked to support Fr. Vitaliy with prayers, donations toward the bail, and by sharing information about his situation.

🔗Bank link
https://send.monobank.ua/jar/4M5YvqvnYU

💳Bank card number
4874 1000 2539 1619

Earlier, the UOJ reported that in Kyiv, the TRC detained Archimandrite Rafail, a lecturer at the Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary.

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