Tulchin, Vinnitsa Province, Ukriane, November 8, 2022
Met. John of Tulchin was given an official notice of suspicion by the Ukrainian Security Service on Monday. Photo: lb.ua
The Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan of Tulchin remains calm despite being under official investigation by the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU), confident that a full investigation will prove his innocence.
The home and diocesan administration of His Eminence Metropolitan Jonathan of Tulchin were searched by the SBU last month, and yesterday, he received an official notice of suspicion.
The SBU is accusing His Eminence of “deliberate actions aimed at inciting religious hatred and insulting the feelings of citizens in connection with their religious beliefs.”
The whole matter is an attempt to undermine the canonical UOC and create unrest among its clergy and faithful, Met. John said after his home was searched.
Speaking with the Ukrainian outlet lb.ua, His Eminence Metropolitan Kliment of Nezhin, chairman of the UOC’s Information-Education Department, explained that Met. Jonathan calmly accepted the official notice of suspicion from the SBU.
“A full and unbiased investigation will prove his innocence. [Met. Jonathan] has said this many times,” Met. Kliment commented.
“It should be noted that recently such proceedings have been opened several times under the same article of the Criminal Code, on the basis of public statements by officials, politicians, and even representatives of various faiths, which contained blatant insults and discrimination against believers of the UOC for their religious beliefs,” the UOC hierarch said.
However, these cases don’t seem to garner so much media publicity, he added. “This could be a serious sign about the observance of fundamental human rights,” Met. Kliment concluded.
Follow OrthoChristian on Twitter, Vkontakte, Telegram, WhatsApp, MeWe, and Gab!
