Mobilized priests of UOC ask for support
Priest Serhiy Kholodkov reported on the forced conscription of five clerics from the Zaporizhzhia Eparchy into the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) with violations of the law.
The mobilized cleric of the Zaporizhzhia Eparchy of the UOC, Archpriest Serhiy Kholodkov, appealed for prayerful support for mobilized clergy. The appeal was posted by blogger Myroslava Berdnyk.
According to the archpriest, he and four other clerics of the UOC – Archpriests Oleksandr and Dmytro, Priests Oleksandr and Rostyslav – were mobilized into the AFU "with clear violations of current legislation and disregard for the norms of canonical law".
"Despite the fact that we did not take the military oath, we were enlisted in the Armed Forces of Ukraine," the priest reports.
Archpriest Kholodkov spoke about psychological pressure and discrimination due to their affiliation with the UOC. The priests were offered to join the OCU as the "only opportunity to continue pastoral care", since the "UOC does not have quotas for chaplaincy service".
The priest expressed particular concern about the work of the Berdiansk Territorial Recruitment Center. He reported violations during the military medical commission and the lack of medical assistance during an asthma attack.
"In my case, despite having serious diagnoses (including bronchial asthma), the commission lasted only 7 minutes and took place in stuffy basement rooms, where I was actually held in isolation," notes Archpriest Kholodkov.
According to him, the mobilized priests "continue, as much as possible, to fulfill their pastoral duties: they hear confessions, baptize, but without Chrismation".
The priest points out that "people are taken without their consent by combat brigades and sent to the front line". The archpriest requests "intense prayers and the dissemination of the appeal in social media, so that the voice of Truth is not silenced or hidden by the lawless ones of this age".
Earlier, the UOJ reported that the TRC abducted a UOC bishop.
