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.
Read also
Sand for construction of Yermak’s residence brought from cemetery, MP says
MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak said that sand illegally removed from a cemetery in Ukrainka was used in the construction of the elite Dynasty cooperative in Kozyn.
Israeli soldiers receive jail terms for mocking statue of the Virgin Mary
Those involved in the act of sacrilege in the village of Debel will spend several weeks behind bars for desecrating a statue of the Mother of God.
Serbian Church officially receives back land of 15th-century monastery
An agreement was signed in Belgrade transferring the territory of the ancient Vojlovica Monastery to the Banat Eparchy.
Pat Daniiel comments on conflict between Phanar bishop and community in Turkey
The Bulgarian Primate believes that the hierarch of the Constantinople Patriarchate should not have forced the Bulgarian community in Edirne to serve in Greek.
Patriarch Bartholomew congratulates Patriarch Shio on his election
In his message of congratulations, Patriarch Bartholomew called for joint witness before the world within the framework of “pan-Orthodox unity.”
Georgian priest in Germany: Patriarch Shio will preserve Ilia II’s legacy
Priest Elias Schlepegrell, who was present at the election in Tbilisi, said there is a clear disposition toward preserving Ilia II’s line and the unity of the Georgian Church.