Kiev, March 7, 2023
Photo: znaj.ua
A second hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has filed a lawsuit against the Ukrainian government, with President Zelensky specifically named as the defendant.
This time, His Eminence Archbishop Paisy (Shinkarev) of Konstantinov, vicar of the Gorlovka Diocese, filed a lawsuit over the presidential decree that implemented the decision of the National Security Defense Council to impose sanctions on individual hierarchs and clerics of the Ukrainian Church, reports the Union of Orthodox Journalists, with reference to the site of the Judicial Branch of the Ukrainian government.
The case, which lists President Zelensky as defendant, aims to “declare illegal and cancel Presidential Decree No. 863/2022 of 11.12.2022.”
Abp. Paisy was among the seven who were 
Ukraine sanctions five more hierarchs, two priestsThe government documents do not indicate what the sanctioned persons are accused of.
“>sanctioned for 5 years on December 12. The sanctions include various limitations related to finances and traveling. 
Ukraine sanctions 9 bishops and a protodeaconThe National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine imposed sanctions upon nine bishops of the Ukrainian and Russian Churches and one protodeacon last week for a period of five years.”>A week prior, Pres. Zelensky had sanctioned nine hierarchs and a deacon.
The Gorlovka Diocese is among those that decided to 
With Met. Onuphry’s blessing to live by old Statutes, we will maintain unity, says Met. of Gorlovka (Donetsk)His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine understands that there are dioceses that don’t approve of the resolutions from last Friday’s Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the changes introduced into the Church’s Statutes, and has blessed them to continue to live according to the old Statutes, including commemorating His Holiness Patriarch Kirill in the Divine services.
“>continue to commemorate Patriarch Kirill in the Divine services even after the UOC changed its statutes at the Council in May.
Ukrainian hierarch taking Pres. Zelensky to court for canceling citizenship of 13 bishopsAccording to the Ukrainian outlet lb.ua, the given hierarchs could also be deported, and the possibility of introducing similar measures against six more people is currently being studied.
“>In January, His Eminence Metropolitan Melety of Chernivtsi and Bukovina brought a suit against the President concerning his order from December 28 that deprived 13 hierarchs of their Ukrainian citizenship.
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