Metropolitan Jonathan: I am accused of being Ukraine's greatest villain

Metropolitan Jonathan. Photo: vinnitsa.info

On June 16, 2023, Metropolitan Jonathan (Yeletskikh) of Tulchyn and Bratslav, during a regular meeting of the Vinnytsia City Court, said that he was accused of being "the biggest villain of Ukraine", reports vinnitsa.info.

"The sentence is passed in the name of Ukraine, and the name of Ukraine must be pure and holy," the UOC hierarch said.

In court, Metropolitan Jonathan is defended by three lawyers: Sergei Rybak, Eugene Cherny, and Igor Chudovsky.
After the hearing, an unidentified activist staged a provocation, shouting insulting words in the direction of Metropolitan Jonathan.

On June 5, 2023, the Vinnytsia City Court began to consider the case of Metropolitan Jonathan of Tulchyn and Bratslav (Yeletskikh).

The hierarch of the UOC is accused under four articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine: Part 2 of Article 109 (actions aimed at a violent change or overthrow of the constitutional order or seizure of state power), Part 1 of Article 110 (an attack on the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine), Part 3 of Article 436-2 (justification, recognition as lawful, denial of armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, glorification of its participants) and Part 2 of Article 161 (violation of equality of citizens based on their religious preferences).

As reported, the trial of Metropolitan Jonathan of Tulchyn and Bratslav started in Vinnytsia.

Read also

Orthodox and Catholic bishops make joint visit to Mount Athos

The head of the Phanar blessed a joint pilgrimage to Mount Athos by Roman Catholic and Orthodox bishops.

UOC Kryvyi Rih Eparchy marks 30th anniversary

Metropolitan Yefrem led the anniversary Divine Liturgy in Kryvyi Rih.

Ostapenko: Everyone in UCCRO feels fine except the “FSB UOC”

The director of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve called the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches “a wonderful organization.”

Khmelnytskyi Eparchy donates funds for treatment of 12-year-old girl

UOC believers raised UAH 20,000 for Anastasiia Mamchur as part of an eparchial charity campaign.

Shevchuk: We had to convince world UOC ban does not violate religious freedom

The UGCC head claims that by banning the UOC, the state is not violating religious freedom but merely protecting the Church’s faithful from Moscow propaganda.

Lavra reserve head estimates damage to Dormition Cathedral at €15 million

Maksym Ostapenko said restoring the Dormition Cathedral would take at least a couple of years and require major funding.