In Prykarpattia, a woman ordered to pay a fine for criticizing OCU on FB
Facebook. Photo: SCANPIX
The Verkhovyna District Court of Ivano-Frankivsk region has sentenced a woman who allegedly created a "bot" to harass and criticize the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) on the social network Facebook. According to the local publication "Blitz Info", the court found the woman guilty of inciting religious hatred and imposed a fine of 4,250 UAH.
Court materials indicate that she spread critical comments about the OCU on social media. After her posts in March 2023, representatives of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) conducted a "preventive conversation" with her. However, according to the report, she ignored this and continued to post comments against the OCU. As a result, a criminal case was opened against her.
One of the comments that the court considered "critical" was the following: "I cannot bear to see how OCU barbarians harass and beat our believers. I cannot bear to see how they torture our clergy, how the state bans pilgrimages to holy sites. I cannot bear to see how fanatics illegally evict UOC believers from churches."
In the verdict dated August 27, she was found guilty and fined 4,250 UAH. In addition, she must pay 24,382 UAH for court expert examinations.
As the UOJ previously reported, a UOC believer in the Rivne region was fined 3,400 UAH for a post on the Internet.
Read also
Pat. Bartholomew: It Is a ‘Grave Sin’ To Put Politics Before Church Unity
"Those who jeopardize this unity in the name of geopolitical expediencies and base motives for acquiring earthly power—falsely cloaked in spirituality—commit an offense before God and a grave sin," the Ecumenical Patriarch said.
Procession Held in Honor of St. Gabriel of Georgia
On Nov. 1, clergy, Mother Paraskeva, and Russian, Ukrainian, and Georgian faithful took part in a procession from the house of St. Gabriel the Confessor and Fool-for-Christ to the Samtavro Monastery.
Hierarchs of UOC Appeal to Zelenskyy in Defense of Met. Arseny
The episcopate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church called on Zelenskyy to stop the persecution of Met. Arseny and to ensure he receives medical treatment.
Moscow Synod Declares Day of Prayer Against Abortion
The Synod also revived the annual All-Moscow Cross Procession as a symbol of faith and unity.
Abp. John of Albania Meets with Pope Leo
Leaders discuss global peace, youth, and Christian cooperation at interfaith event.
Lawyer: The Health Condition of Met. Tychikos Remains Concerning
Met. Tychikos remains hospitalized in Athens.