Dear Brothers in Christ,
After the appealing to the Supreme Court of Belarus the sentence to Bishop Hushcha was changed to two years (conditionally). It means that he is freed from the prison but he can go there any time he violates the law, which is very easy in Belarus.
On October 14, Bishop Petro Hushcha was released and he thanks all the suppporters of him for big help they provided in different ways writting to the government insititutions, helping with the lawyers and especially with prayers. He hopes that cooperation between his church body and ours will continue to God's glory. Praise the Lord! Keep praying, please!
In Christ.......Slavik Horpynchuk
I have wonderful news! Bishop Petro Hushcha is free! A Belarusian appelate court, while declining to reverse his conviction, did reduce Hushcha's sentence to two years of probation. He was accordingly released from confinement on October 14. My assistant, Deacon V'yacheslav Horpynchuk, has spoken with Bishop Hushcha on the telephone. The Bishop wishes to thank all those who prayed and worked for his release.
Petro Hushcha is a bishop in the Belarusian Autocephalous (Orthodox) Church, and is the leader of the Belarusian National Church of the Augsburg Confession, a "Reformational" movement within the Autocephalous Church. Hushcha's legal standing in Belarus is still somewhat precarious, since neither his church body nor his clerical credentials are recognized by the government. He could be rearrested and reincarcerated for any additional infraction of Belarusian law (real or contrived). We therefore request your continuing prayers on his behalf.
As with previous updates, please forward this message to any parties to whom you have forwarded previous messages. Thank you.
Cordially,
David Jay Webber, Rector
St. Sophia Ukrainian Lutheran Theological Seminary
Ternopil', Ukraine
E-mail: djwebber@hotmail.com