Volodymyr-Volyn Diocese Names the Number of Mobilized and Fallen Clergy
According to the diocese, during the war 14 of its clergy and monastics were conscripted into the Armed Forces of Ukraine; two more are missing in action, and one deacon was killed.
The Volodymyr-Volyn Diocese of the UOC reported that during the war 14 of its clergy and monastics were conscripted into the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, two more clergymen are listed as missing in action, and one deacon was killed. This is stated on the diocese's Facebook page.
According to the published list, those conscripted include Archimandrite Nikolai, a number of mitred priests, Hieromonk Ioann, protodeacons, and Monk Vlasiy. Among those listed as missing in action are Mitred Priests Yuriy Khavura and Andriy Olasyuk.
The diocese also reported the death of Deacon Nikolai Matvienko. It was emphasized that the list provided is not merely a statistic but, in the opinion of the authors of the statement, points to a serious problem with the observance of the rights of clergy.
The diocese's statement says that many clergymen were, according to its data, detained by force and without proper observance of procedural norms. After being delivered to military units or training grounds, the diocese notes, the clergy are effectively deprived of the opportunity to fully defend their legal rights.
The Volodymyr-Volyn Diocese stated that coercion and forcible methods cannot be instruments of a law-governed state. The diocese also linked this situation to the case of Protodeacon Bohdan Rudnychok, who, according to the diocese, was previously taken to the Territorial Recruitment Center (TRC) in Rivne.
The Union of Orthodox Journalists previously reported that the TRC abducted a protodeacon of the Volodymyr-Volyn Diocese of the UOC.
