#BreakingNews Head of the Catholic Church in Ukraine Makes Appeal to International Organizations for Release of 2 Priests Detained by Russia's Army
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Head of the Catholic Church in Ukraine Makes Appeal to International Organizations for Release of 2 Priests Detained by Russia's Army. Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church wrote:
"These priests of Christ are not to blame for anything," the head of the UGCC called for the release from captivity of Fr. Ivan Levitskyi and Fr. Bohdan Geletu
December 1, 2022,
I am appealing to diplomatic representatives and international human rights organizations to do everything to save the lives of our captured hieromonks. I ask all the faithful of our Church in Ukraine and in the settlements, all Christians, people of good will to pray for the salvation of our pastors.
This is what the Father and Head of the UGCC His Beatitude Sviatoslav addressed on Thursday, December 1.
"These priests of Christ are not to blame for anything," the head of the UGCC called for the release from captivity of Fr. Ivan Levitskyi and Fr. Bohdan Geletu
He called for the release of two captive Greek Catholic priests, hieromonks of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, Fr. Ivan Levitskyi and Fr. Bohdan Geleta, who were arrested by the occupation authorities in Berdyansk on November 16.
"These two priests decided to stay with their people in the temporarily occupied territories. They served both the Greek Catholic and Roman Catholic communities, bringing a light of hope to people under occupation. They were arrested, then some military items were thrown into the temple, and they begin to accuse these fathers of illegal possession of weapons. Yesterday there was a report that they were being mercilessly tortured. According to the classic Stalinist repressive methods, confessions to crimes they did not commit are simply beaten out. They are in danger of death every day," the Patriarch said.
And he urged: "I ask everyone, first of all those who torture and torture, to release them immediately. This is not the fault of Christ's priests. They were guilty only because they love their people, the Church, the people entrusted to them."
"Lord, we entrust Fathers Ivan and Bohdan into Your hands! Give us all the light of understanding, how we can help them, how to save them. And where it is impossible for a person to do something, Lord, be present! God, may their lives, testimonies, and sufferings be the newest treasure of our Church and people!" asked His Beatitude Sviatoslav.
Information Department of the UGCC
December 1, 2022,
I am appealing to diplomatic representatives and international human rights organizations to do everything to save the lives of our captured hieromonks. I ask all the faithful of our Church in Ukraine and in the settlements, all Christians, people of good will to pray for the salvation of our pastors.
This is what the Father and Head of the UGCC His Beatitude Sviatoslav addressed on Thursday, December 1.
"These priests of Christ are not to blame for anything," the head of the UGCC called for the release from captivity of Fr. Ivan Levitskyi and Fr. Bohdan Geletu
He called for the release of two captive Greek Catholic priests, hieromonks of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, Fr. Ivan Levitskyi and Fr. Bohdan Geleta, who were arrested by the occupation authorities in Berdyansk on November 16.
"These two priests decided to stay with their people in the temporarily occupied territories. They served both the Greek Catholic and Roman Catholic communities, bringing a light of hope to people under occupation. They were arrested, then some military items were thrown into the temple, and they begin to accuse these fathers of illegal possession of weapons. Yesterday there was a report that they were being mercilessly tortured. According to the classic Stalinist repressive methods, confessions to crimes they did not commit are simply beaten out. They are in danger of death every day," the Patriarch said.
And he urged: "I ask everyone, first of all those who torture and torture, to release them immediately. This is not the fault of Christ's priests. They were guilty only because they love their people, the Church, the people entrusted to them."
"Lord, we entrust Fathers Ivan and Bohdan into Your hands! Give us all the light of understanding, how we can help them, how to save them. And where it is impossible for a person to do something, Lord, be present! God, may their lives, testimonies, and sufferings be the newest treasure of our Church and people!" asked His Beatitude Sviatoslav.
Information Department of the UGCC
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