Believers raise over ₴250,000 for the bail of deserter priest in one day

Archpriest Vitaly Agafonov. Photo: the priest's Facebook

Believers have collected the necessary sum to post bail for the cleric of the Holy Transfiguration Cathedral in the city of Nikopol of the Kryvyi Rih Eparchy of the UOC, Archpriest Vitaly Agafonov, who is being held in custody at the guardhouse on charges of desertion. This was reported on his Telegram by the UOC lawyer, Archpriest Nikita Chekman.

According to the lawyer, the required funds – more than 260 thousand hryvnias – were collected within one day, which will allow the procedure for releasing the clergyman from custody to begin.

Earlier, the court chose a preventive measure for Father Vitaly in the form of bail in the amount of 266,240 hryvnias. The priest was detained after he left the military unit where he was sent after mobilization. In November last year, he was drafted into the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and appointed to the position of sniper.

According to the lawyers, the priestly conscience did not allow Archpriest Vitaly to take up arms, since the canons of the Church prohibit clergy from participating in armed actions. After his detention, he was placed in the guardhouse on charges of desertion.

Thanks to the support of believers, it is now possible to free the priest.

As the UOJ wrote, earlier the law firm of Archpriest Nikita Chekman appealed to Orthodox believers with a request to support Father Vitaly with prayer and help raise funds for posting bail.

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