“Aydar” detained battalion commander's wife accuses Pat. Bartholomew
Detained Sergey Melnichuk. Photo: Sergey Melnichuk's Facebook page
Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople may stand behind the detention of Sergey Melnichuk, which occurred on the border of Greece and Bulgaria on March 1, 2020. The wife of the battalion commander Mila Melnichuk said this in a comment to Strana.ua publication.
“I have several versions,” the detainee’s wife said. “First, this provocation was staged by Bartholomew himself (Patriarch of Constantinople – Ed.), because they started calling me with proposals so that the New Church (OCU – Ed.) will be engaged in the peacemaking process. Greece really wants to act as a peacemaker before the Norman format.”
Also, according to Mila Melnichuk, the detention of her husband may be initiated by the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Arsen Avakov, or Russia.
“This is a framed-up situation. But this is an absurd situation, because we haven’t been listed anywhere in Interpol <...> A faked-up case. Now my husband is talking with the consul, and they are waiting for a decision of the prosecutor, but I was told that this procedure could take several years,” she added.
As reported by the UOJ, previously the Greek theologian Panagiotis Katramados called Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople the “captive of the Turks and the USA”, explaining the consequences of his anti-canonical actions in Ukraine for Greece.
Read also
TRC comments on situation with detention of Metropolitan Longin’s children
The agency reported that after the necessary documents were provided, the man was given the opportunity to formalize a deferral.
Media: Metropolitan Longin’s children released from the TRC
The release was made possible only thanks to the courageous and steadfast position of the metropolitan and the reaction of the entire Orthodox community.
DESS says how many UOC churches have "transferred" to OCU since war started
As of early 2024, there were 10,919 UOC religious organizations in Ukraine, 10,586 of which are religious communities.
Metropolitan Longin to Zelensky: Release my son from TRC
Metropolitan Longin (Zhar) of Bancheny addressed an appeal to the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky.
Prayers further offered for imprisoned UOJ journalists at Lavra's standing
People pray to the Lord to protect the "prisoners of conscience" from all sorrow, trouble, need, and illness.
Metropolitan Theodosiy's house arrest extended
The bishop participated in the hearing via videoconference, but opponents of the UOC were active near the courthouse.