Moscow Patriarchate priest suspected of pedophilia ordained bishop

The secretary of the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Eparchy Nikita Storozhu became involved in a scandal with a minor

The secretary of the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Eparchy Nikita Storozhu became involved in a scandal with a minor

Last week this priest was found together with a naked underage boy during a raid by the Ukrainian security service SBU.

The ordination took place at St. Panteleimon’s Cathedral in Kyiv and was conducted by UOC MP Primate Metropolitan Onufriy. He was supported by Metropolitan Meletiy of Chernivtsi and Bukovyna.

According to the broadcast, the event was also attended by the abbot of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra Petro Lebid, on whom the National Security and Defense Council imposed sanctions two days earlier.

<span-Klasse="Urheberrechte ©">Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Eparchy/Facebook</span>” data-src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/d.kMD9P9IRK9y47avQEp0w–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTcwNTtoPTMxOA–/https://media.zenfs.com/en/the_new_voice_of_ukraine_articles_294/a172af16985ec468ff1698deeb4686ffd4694a306ff” /></p><p>Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Eparchy/Facebook</p><h3><b>Kremlin manuals, child pornography, a priest in underwear: what the SBU found in raids on the UOC diocese in Bukovyna</b></h3><p>On November 25, the SBU conducted searches in the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Moscow Patriarchate.  Russian propaganda literature and several Russian passports were confiscated.</p><p>In particular, SBU agents seized a number of Kremlin propaganda manuals and Russian certificates, as well as correspondence from diocesan leaders with their Moscow-based superiors.  Representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church allegedly demanded that UOC-MP priests deny Russia’s armed aggression, talk about the “suppression of the Moscow Church” and other Russian propaganda narratives.</p><p>The SBU has accused the clergy of the diocese of high treason.</p><p><b>Also read:</b>  The SBU raided the Church of the Nativity of the Moscow Patriarchate in Ivano-Frankivsk</p><p>In addition, the SBU found a Russian passport belonging to the head of the Eparchy of Chernivtsi and Bukovina, Metropolitan Meletiy.  He is said to have fled to Moldova after the raids.</p><p>In addition, according to the Ukrainian news agency LB.ua, the secretary of the diocese was found in bed with a boy from the local choir.  The journalists also published a photo showing Archimandrite Nikita next to a boy dressed only in his underwear.  According to BBC Ukraine, the boy is 17 years old.</p><p>Nikita has denied the SBU allegations, claiming that during the searches SBU officers allegedly forced him to undress and then took the pictures.</p><p>The story goes on</p><p>“At 7 a.m. we were woken up, the door was broken down, we were taken out of our rooms, everyone who was in the diocese was put against the wall, separated and, as it turned out, photographed…” Nikita said in a video message.</p><p>“And then followed all sorts of obscene additions – you’ve probably read all of that.  God is the judge of all who wrote it, if they have evidence – let them prove it.”</p><p>He claimed that Ukraine’s state services are “undemocratic and employ despotic methods”.</p><p>According to the priest, the raid lasted 12 hours.</p><p>In addition, according to LB.ua, a laptop with pornographic material involving minors was found during the raid.  According to preliminary information, these materials were not downloaded from the Internet, but filmed with a video camera.</p><p>For more than 20 years, the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Eparchy was headed by the Acting Head of the UOC-MP, Onufriy.  He held the post of Bishop of Chernivtsi and Bukovyna until 2014, when he was elected Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine – the head of the UOC (MP).</p><h3><b>The Moscow Church in Ukraine: what is known about raids on the UOC (MP)</b></h3><p>The SBU has conducted regular searches at UOC-MP institutions in recent weeks.  On November 22, the SBU reported that it conducted a counterintelligence operation at the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra after controversial footage of a service glorifying the “Russian world” appeared on social media.</p><p><b>Also read:</b>  Ukraine’s SBU confiscates pro-Russian books, cash and Soviet passports in a raid on Kiev’s Pechersk Lavra</p><p>The security service said the measures were part of a systematic effort “to counter subversive activities by Russian special services in Ukraine.”</p><p>In addition, the SBU conducted searches of the premises and monastery of the UOC-MP in the Rivne region.</p><p>During the raids, the SBU is said to have seized pro-Russian literature, millions in cash in various currencies, including Russian rubles, and discovered “suspicious” Russian citizens.</p><p>Since then, SBU agents have visited several UOC-MP-affiliated locations in different regions of Ukraine.  According to the agency’s press service, more than 350 church buildings and 850 people were inspected.</p><p><b>Also read:</b>  SBU of Ukraine accuses the priest of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, his “accomplices”, of glorifying the “Russian world”</p><p>On December 1, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that after a session of the Rada’s National Security and Defense Council, a bill banning the activities of Russia-affiliated religious organizations would be presented.</p><p>On December 2, Zelenskyy also enacted an NSDC decision on personal sanctions against officials of religious organizations linked to centers of influence in Russia.  These “ecclesiastical sanctions” targeted ten people, including former MP and UOC-MP cleric Vadym Novynskyi, Kiev Cave Monastery abbot Petro Lebid, and the metropolitans and bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church in occupied Crimea.</p><p>Novynskyi stated that he would challenge the sanctions against him in court.</p><h3><b>Have they abandoned Moscow?  What happened to the UOC-MP after a full-blown war broke out</b></h3><p>On May 28, following the start of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, the UOC-MP convened a council in Kyiv.  This council declared that it condemned the war and expressed its opposition to the position of the head of the Russian Orthodox Church Vladimir Gundyayev, who has made statements in support of the war against Ukraine.  In addition, the UOC-MP announced that it would strive for “complete autonomy and independence”.</p><p>In response, hundreds of priests belonging to the UOC-MP called for Gunyaev to be tried for his stance on Ukraine.  In April, the clergy collected more than 400 signatures for the appeal.</p><p>At the same time, the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) called on UOC-MP bishops, clergy, monasteries and religious communities to join the OCU.  Dozens of UOC-MP communities have already done so.</p><p>However, after this “declaration of independence” from the Russian Church, the UOC-MP said that in order to resume dialogue with the OCU, he wished that representatives of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine “stop the confiscation of churches and the forced transfer of parishes.” Furthermore the OCU would have to “recognize that its canonical status is not in fact autocephalous” even though it has received status from the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople – which is a mandatory recognition under Orthodox law.</p><p>Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine</p></div></div></article><nav class= Post navigation