UOC Metropolitan Found Guilty of Religious Incitement for Homily on Protecting Churches

Metropolitan Anthony (Fialko). Photo: glavcom.ua

KYIV — A Ukrainian court has convicted Metr. Anthony of Makariv, vicar of the Kyiv Metropolis, in a case arising from a sermon delivered in 2022. The court found him guilty of inciting religious enmity and hatred, as well as indirectly restricting rights and establishing privileges on religious grounds. He received a two-year prison sentence that was replaced with two years of probation and was barred from leading religious departments and dioceses for two years. Reports issued after the ruling said the 79-year-old hierarch was convicted of “inciting religious hatred” and “restricting citizens’ rights on religious grounds.”

The case focused on a sermon delivered on May 22, 2022, while Metr. Anthony headed the Khmelnytskyi and Shepetiv Diocese. Prosecutors cited video footage in which he urged parishioners to resist attempts to take church property. Witnesses testified that the remarks contained elements of incitement against supporters of the state-backed Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU). The recording showed the Metropolitan encouraging parishioners to defend their churches from those seeking to seize them.

In court, Metr. Anthony denied guilt, stating that he could not fully recall the service because of the time that had passed. He apologized to anyone offended and said he had always promoted peace and harmony. 

Previously, the UOJ reported that two Greek tourists were arrested for displaying a flag in Hagia Sophia.

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