The Sentence Imposed on Metropolitan Jonathan is an Absolute Shock to Us: Metropolitans of Malankara Church

H.E Metropolitan Zachariah Nicholovos of the Northeast American Diocese (Malankara Orthodox Church), H.E Metropolitan Jonathan of Tulchyn and Bratslav (Ukrainian Orthodox Church) & H.E Metropolitan Abraham Stephanos of the UK, Europe, and Africa Dioceses (Malankara Orthodox Church)

DECR – OCP News Service – 01/09/2023

Moscow-Russia:  “The sentence imposed on Metropolitan Jonathan is an absolute shock to us,” said Metropolitan Zachariah Mar Nicholovos (Northeast American Diocese) and Metropolitan Abraham Mar Stephanos (UK, Europe, and Africa Dioceses) of Malankara Orthodox Church in a statement made during the meeting of Indian hierarchs with Metropolitan Isidor of Smolensk and Dorogobuzh on August 31, 2023 in Smolensk.

“The news of the sentence imposed on Metropolitan Jonathan of the Russian Orthodox Church came as an absolute shock to us. An elderly and respected hierarch, who stood guard over the true faith all his life, is now deprived of the opportunity to serve his people. We pray with hope that human rights organizations and all Christian Churches will raise their voices so that the Metropolitan will be acquitted of all charges brought by the authorities concerned.  Let us also pray that the authorities, who encroach on the life of the Church with such unjust measures, will refrain from such cruelty in the future,” said the metropolitans of the Malankara Orthodox Church.

Hieromonk Stefan (Igumnov), Secretary of the Department for External Church Relations for Inter-Christian Relations, also took part in the meeting.

Vinnytsia City Court on August 07, 2023, sentenced Metropolitan Jonathan of Tulchyn and Bratslav to 5 years in prison. The verdict was part of the continuing persecution against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

His Holiness Marthoma Mathews III (Catholicos-Moopan on the Apostolic Throne of St. Thomas and Malankara Metropolitan) expressed deep concern on the recent verdict against the Metropolitan Jonathan of Tulchyn and Bratslavin (Ukrainian Orthodox Church) in a statement issued on August 31st, 2023.

Source:
OCP News Service