Metropolitan Ivan (Siopko) of Kherson and Tavria of the UOC-MP, in response to serious violations of church rules and actions incompatible with the priesthood, has banned Monk Viktor (Iniakin) from performing priestly duties.
This was stated in decree No. 146, reports the Information and Education Department of the UOC-MP.
"The Kherson Diocese of the UOC-MP strongly condemns the actions of Monk Viktor (Iniakin), which are a sin before God, a crime against the state, and discredit the Church, sow temptation in society, and could be used for provocative purposes," the announcement reads.
Metropolitan Ivan did not specify the exact nature of the serious violations of church rules committed by the cleric in his diocese.
It is worth noting that on September 26, the Security Service, in collaboration with the National Police, apprehended the abbot of one of the UOC-MP churches in the Kherson region. He was clandestinely selling weapons and ammunition that remained after the retreat of Russian-backed forces during the Ukrainian counteroffensive.