Another UOC priest subjected to forced mobilization in Volyn

Another clergyman of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church was subjected to forced mobilization into the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This time, the incident happened to Archpriest Petro Cholak, dean of the Novovolynsk district of the Volodymyr-Volyn Diocese of the UOC. The priest was detained by representatives of the territorial recruitment center in the city of Lutsk, from where he was sent to a military training ground. This is reported by the Telegram channel “First Cossack”.

“The priest of the UOC was grabbed by representatives of the recruiting center, put in a bus and taken to the third department of the Volodymyr-Volyn Regional Military Recruiting Center, where he was informed of the mobilization. After that, Fr. Peter was sent to police training. Petro was sent to a training ground. According to our information, the TRC did not react to the fact that, according to the canons, an Orthodox priest cannot hold a weapon. They did not offer an alternative service. Moreover, they insist that the clergyman take up arms, arguing that “there are priests who have agreed to do so,” — the statement reads.

Earlier, we reported that one of the district recruiting centers of the Transcarpathian region is collecting information about the clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Apparently, this is to make it easier for the staff of the recruiting center to find and detain priests for the purpose of their forced mobilization.