February 3, 2015

Archbishop Jovan Released from Prison


On January 9th it was announced that Archbishop Jovan of Ochrid, who has been unjustly held in prison for more than three years in Skopje, was to be released on January 19th by court order (see here).

Then on January 19th it was announced by the Archdiocese of Ochrid that the release will not take place that day and that it was on hold (see here).

At 5:00pm on February 2nd Archbishop Jovan was finally released from Idrizovo prison in Macedonia.

Media have tried contacting Archbishop Jovan, but due to health reasons he did not wish to make a statement at this time, though he thanked all those who contributed to his release.

It is expected that within the next few days Archbishop Jovan, in accordance with the invitation of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Irenaeus of Serbia, will come to Russia for medical treatment.