Arsonists of the Tithes Monastery apologize in writing to believers

Architects Alexander Gorban and Alexey Shemotiuk. Photo: censor.net.ua

The arsonists of the Tithes (Desiatinny) Monastery of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos of the UOC in Kiev, architects Alexander Gorban and Alexei Shemotiuk, apologized in writing to members of the monastery’s religious community, reports Viacheslav Chechilo, a political blogger, Editor-in-Chief of the online edition “Capital” on Facebook.

He published a photocopy of the letter from the arsonists, in which they stated that they were not going to destroy the property of citizens or insult the feelings of believers.

“We apologize to everyone and to the religious community as a whole regarding the events that occurred on January 24, 2018,” wrote Gorban and Shemotiuk. “In no way did we have as our aim any actions that would be dangerous to human life or lead to destroying the property of citizens. Also, in no way did we want to offend the feelings of believers.”

According to the offenders, they admit that they “chose a method of protest not worthy for a believing educated person," and sincerely repent of their actions.

The arsonists also assured that they wrote their penitential letter not in the hope for leniency but for the sake of self-respect.

We recall that in January 2018, Gorban and Shemotiuk climbed to the roof of the Tithes Monastery of the Nativity of the Theotokos, doused it with petrol and set it on fire. As they said in the monastery, the fire went out on its own, and no one suffered.

On February 5, 2018, the brothers of the Tithes Monastery filed an application with the Kiev Court of Appeal to bail the arsonists.

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