Two Priests 'Kidnapped' by Russian Forces in Berdyansk
The Donetsk Exarchate of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church announced that on 16 November, two priests of the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin of Berdyansk, currently under Russian control, were "illegally arrested" by the Rosgvardiya (Russia's National Guard).
According to Forum 18, the day after the arrest, Russian forces searched Berdyansk's Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin - where the arrested priests Fr Ivan and Fr Bohdan serve - and claimed to have found explosives and "extremist" literature. Apparently, the two priests will be put on trial on "terrorism charges."
The Donetsk Exarchate also told Forum 18 that after this arrest there are no priests left in Berdyansk, hence services in the parishes have stopped.
UPDATE: As of 21 December there are still no updates of the two arrested priests. Both the Donetsk Exarchate of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and Forum 18 have tried to contact Russian authorities to no avail. The Donetsk Exarchate asks for the immediate release of its priests.
Source: Forum 18; Донецький екзархат Української Греко-Католицької Церкви
Photo: Донецький екзархат Української Греко-Католицької Церкви