Metropolitan Vissarion: I will have the opportunity to defend Christ's Church in court

Metropolitan Vissarion (Stretovych), head of the Ovruch diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, has addressed the clergy and believers of the diocese about the indictment handed to him. This is reported by the press service of the Ovruch diocese.

Metropolitan Vissarion noted that in the oath, which he took, «it says that I undertake to spread Christ’s teaching, protecting the faithful from heresies and schisms. By the latter we understand in Ukraine those Christians who have departed from the legitimate Church of Christ and have created their own religious organizations arbitrarily.»

«Missionary work is my and my priests’ duty, and the Constitution of Ukraine (Article 35) allows us to do so,» the bishop added.

The hierarch said that he and the priests of the diocese «some power structures exhorted to go to «Filaret’s» church, then, go to the OCU church, by the way, to which Filaret Denisenko did not want to join. Having received a refusal, in the near future we felt various oppressions: threats, raiding of some churches, seizure of various liturgical literature, brochures, missionary leaflets with the «theological» expertise through the Institute of Philosophy named after G.S.Skovoroda of the NAC of Ukraine».

The bishop also added that on August 31, 2023 he received an indictment under part 2 of article 28, part 2 of article 161 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Zhytomyr SSU spread this information in the Internet network.

«I feel that I will have the opportunity to defend the Truth, Christ’s Church in court. I ask the saints of our Holy Church for prayers and blessing,» Metropolitan Vissarion noted.