Minsk, June 25, 2024
Screenshot from a service in Minsk. Photo: spzh.live
The hierarch of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church who was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for allegedly supporting the Russian war in Ukraine and inciting religious enmity has been released and left Ukraine.
His Eminence Metropolitan Jonathan of Tulchin, 75, was initially found guilty 
Ukrainian hierarch sentenced to 5 years in prisonA hierarch of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church has been sentenced to 5 years imprisonment and the confiscation of property for various supposed crimes against the state.
“>last August, which was upheld by an appeals court 
Court upholds 5-year sentence against elderly Ukrainian Orthodox hierarchA court of appeal in the Ukrainian city of Vinnitsa ruled yesterday, June 18, to uphold the verdict against the elderly and ailing Metropolitan Jonathan of Tulchin of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church.”>last week.
The elderly hierarch, known as a composer of Church music, is also in poor health, which has only been exacerbated by the state’s persecution campaign against him. In November 2022, a month after the searches, after having been 
UOC Metropolitan remains calm despite state suspicion and investigationThe whole matter is an attempt to undermine the canonical UOC and create unrest among its clergy and faithful, Met. John said after his home was searched.
“>officially notified of state suspicion against him, he had to 
Prayer request: persecuted Ukrainian bishop undergoes heart surgeryHis Eminence Metropolitan Jonathan of Tulchin and Bratslav, a hierarch of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church who has been subjected to searches and serious accusations by the Ukrainian Security Services (SBU) lately, underwent an emergency open-heart surgery today.”>undergo heart surgery. In March of this year, he 
Ukrainian hierarch recovers from stroke, discharged from hospitalMet. Jonathan, 75, has been in poor health lately, which is exacerbated by the state’s persecution campaign against him.”>suffered a stroke and was hospitalized for 10 days.
Although for unknown reasons, the Metropolitan, who wrote a petition while being treated for his stroke, asking to be sent to Russia as part of a prisoner exchange, canceled this request at his court session on June 12. According to his lawyer, he is no prisoner of war and does not admit any guilt. His Eminence “wants to continue working for the good of Ukraine.”
However, on June 22, reports appeared on Russian Church resources that Met. Jonathan was released at the request of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and following serious negotiations. According to RBC.ru, Pope Francis interceded on behalf of Met. Jonathan at the request of the Patriarch.
According to the reports, Met. Jonathan, who is “in dire need of treatment and medical rehabilitation, will soon arrive in Moscow.”
By Saturday, June 23, Met. Jonathan had left Ukraine and attended the All-Night Vigil for the feast of Holy Pentecost at the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Minsk.
In addition to Pat. Kirill, Met. Jonathan has received messages of support from His Beatitude 
Patriarch of Jerusalem condemns prison sentence against Ukrainian metropolitanHis Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem writes that he read the Russian primate’s letter “with great sorrow” and that “we strongly condemn this verdict.”
“>Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem and His Beatitude 
Archbishop of Albania supports persecuted UOC hierarchs“We share in your sufferings and, to the best of our ability, share our testimony of the atrocities committed against the righteous Orthodox clergy, pious people, and famous holy sites of Ukraine.””>Metropolitan Athanasios of Albania, and others.
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