RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇫🇷 France·
According to France 24, reported by RISU, the number of adult baptisms among young people in France is increasing. The channel attributes this trend to anxiety caused by the pandemic, the return of war in Europe, and climate change. Individuals like Johann, Morgana, and Malik sought spiritual community and meaning after personal losses or social struggles. Historian Charles Mercier notes that faith is now viewed as an individual choice rather than a birthright. Additionally, social media influencers play a significant role, with nearly 20% of catechumens citing them as key figures in their religious journey.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
According to RISU, the Holy Protection Church in Kyiv was damaged during a recent Russian attack. Volodymyr Nakonechny, head of the Podilsk District State Administration, confirmed the incident via Telegram. The 1906 building, noted as the oldest in the Mostytsia and Vynohradar areas, suffered damage to its windows, domes, and historic yellow brick facade. This event highlights the ongoing targeting of civilian infrastructure in the Ukrainian capital by Russian forces.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇵🇱 Poland·
Polish prosecutors revealed details regarding a 31-year-old Ukrainian citizen suspected of attacking a Benedictine monastery in Jaroslaw, Poland. The suspect entered Poland from Germany on the day of the incident but did not cross the border checkpoint. He entered the monastery kitchen, where he obtained a knife and attacked five people, including three clergy members. One victim died, while two others remain in critical condition. Police detained the man at the scene. Authorities are testing his blood for drugs and have not yet determined his motives. Polish President Karol Nawrocki and Prime Minister Donald Tusk condemned the attack and promised justice.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇵🇱 Poland·
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned a deadly attack at a Benedictine abbey in Jarosław, Poland. According to RISU, Zelensky described the crime as horrific and expressed shock that a Ukrainian citizen committed the act. The assault resulted in the death of a priest and injuries to several others. The president called for full legal accountability for the perpetrator and urged a thorough investigation. Polish police have detained the suspect, who is a Ukrainian national. The incident occurred in the Subcarpathian Voivodeship, highlighting tensions following the violence at the religious site.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
A Russian attack has damaged a Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate temple in Kramatorsk, Ukraine. Photos and videos show significant destruction to the building's walls, roof, and dome, with the metal framework twisted by the blast. The church reports that the area is covered in debris. No information is currently available regarding the specific time of the strike, the weapons used, or any casualties. Kramatorsk, located in the Donetsk region, continues to face frequent attacks due to its proximity to the front lines.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
The Security Service of Ukraine conducted searches involving Metropolitan Pimen of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) in the Rivne region. Anna Svintsitska-Savchuk, a spokesperson for the SBU, confirmed that procedural actions were taken but declined to provide details due to investigation secrecy laws. Vasyl Nachiev, head of the Rivne diocese's legal department, offered a brief comment. The scrutiny follows reports that Metropolitan Pimen participated in joint worship with Archimandrite Vassian Zmeev, a Russian cleric previously accused of espionage. The diocese stated the meeting occurred at the request of mothers of fallen soldiers.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
An appellate court in Odessa, Ukraine, has upheld a lower court ruling that denied the prosecutor's office's claim to a building now used as a church by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate. The legal dispute began when prosecutors sought to transfer the property to an educational institution. However, the court rejected these claims, recognizing the church's ownership established through a 2012 agreement and registered in 2018. The prosecutor's office has filed a cassation appeal, which the Supreme Court has accepted for review. This decision maintains the current status of the religious organization's title to the site.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
Ukrainian authorities have initiated legal proceedings to liquidate the Religious Organization 'Mission of the Synodal Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church for Family Affairs.' The State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) filed an administrative lawsuit seeking the organization's forced closure. The Sixth Appellate Administrative Court opened the case on September 22, 2026, with hearings scheduled for October 9. The mission is led by Vasyl Povoroznyuk, also known as Metropolitan Pantelimon. According to the outlet, he was convicted in absentia in 2025 for criminal offenses related to the annexation of Ukrainian territories and sentenced to 11 years in prison. The state argues the group poses a threat to national security.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) has exposed pro-Russian internet agitators in Kyiv, including a server at a Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC MP) temple. According to LB, the suspect used a Telegram channel and social media chats to justify Russia's armed aggression and incite national hatred. Linguistic expert analyses confirmed the subversive nature of the posts. During searches, investigators seized mobile phones and computers containing evidence. The SBU has formally notified the suspect of suspicion under several articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, including glorifying aggression and threatening violence based on religious intolerance. The accused faces up to eight years in prison with confiscation of property.
On September 23, 2026, Pope Leo XIV greeted a delegation of relatives of Ukrainian prisoners of war and missing persons during a general audience in the Vatican. The group presented an embroidered reproduction of Rembrandt's painting 'Apostle Peter' to the pontiff. According to the report, a border guard soldier created the artwork while performing combat duties in the Kharkiv direction. The soldier included a letter thanking the Holy See for its efforts to facilitate the return of military captives. This gesture highlights the ongoing humanitarian concerns regarding Ukrainian detainees and the Vatican's diplomatic engagement in the conflict.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇵🇱 Poland·
The Ukrainian embassy in Poland strongly condemned a violent attack that occurred on September 24 at a Benedictine convent in Jarosław. According to the embassy's statement, five people were injured during the incident. Police have detained a suspect, who is a Ukrainian citizen. The diplomatic mission expressed condolences to the victims' families and wished the injured a speedy recovery. The embassy emphasized that violence is unjustifiable and called for the responsible parties to face legal consequences. It also thanked law enforcement and medical services for their response, urging mutual support and respect for human life during this difficult time.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇷🇺 Russia·
Pope Francis's envoy, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, is scheduled to visit Russia, according to reports cited by RISU. Yuri Ushakov, an advisor to President Vladimir Putin, stated that the two will discuss humanitarian issues related to the conflict in Ukraine. Zuppi, who heads the Italian Bishops' Conference, last visited Moscow in October 2024 to negotiate family reunifications and prisoner exchanges. Additionally, RISU reported that Andriy Sybiga previously discussed the release of Ukrainian civilian hostages held in Russian prisons with the cardinal. The visit aims to advance dialogue regarding the ongoing war.
Translated from УкраїнськаAlso reported by 11 outlets
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
Military personnel and cadets gathered in Zarvanytsia, Ukraine, for an All-Ukrainian military pilgrimage, according to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church's information department. Participants included soldiers from various security agencies, students from military lyceums, and representatives of the Defense Ministry and Chaplaincy Service. Bishop Bohdan Manishyn led prayers, blessed families of fallen heroes, and consecrated military banners. The event featured liturgies, a memorial service for the dead, and a Way of the Cross. Bishop Manishyn emphasized the link between faith and courage in his sermon, concluding with awards for chaplains and attendees.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
The Izmaił city council in Ukraine has approved the urban planning documentation for the construction of the first Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) in the city. The decision concerns a plot of land located between Independence Avenue and Illya Ripyn and Mykhailo Hrushevsky streets. The religious community of Saint Josaphat Kunsevych, active since 2018, initiated the request. The council’s resolution allows for the development of detailed plans, including public discussions and environmental assessments. While this step facilitates the project, it does not yet grant land ownership to the congregation. The community currently holds services in a Roman Catholic church, with Father Volodymyr Zhuk serving as its pastor. The legal entity for the congregation was registered in August 2025.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
A parish in Cherkasy Oblast, Ukraine, has transferred its historic cathedral to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU). According to People's Deputy Serhiy Rudyk, the community had already been serving under the OCU for years before the full-scale invasion and built a new church. The 1876 cathedral is now officially part of the OCU. The first service in Ukrainian will take place on September 27. Rudyk praised the decision, citing the use of the national language as a symbol of freedom and encouraging other communities to follow this example.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
The Bernardine Monastery complex in Lviv, Ukraine, will undergo urgent restoration of war-damaged stained glass windows with support from the World Monuments Fund. A memorandum was signed between the fund and the Basilian Province of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. Repairs, starting in October and lasting ten months, will include strengthening frames, cleaning fragments, and installing anti-vandal glass. The damage occurred after a Russian drone strike on March 24, 2026, which caused a fire and blast wave that destroyed parts of the bell tower and damaged upper church windows. The project is coordinated by the city heritage office and the NGO HEMO, with approval from Ukraine's Ministry of Culture.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
Former Ukrainian ambassador to Russia Volodymyr Kryzhanivskyy stated that President Vladimir Putin is obsessed with capturing at least one of Ukraine's three major lavras. Speaking to Holos, Kryzhanivskyy explained that while Russia seeks a foothold in southern Ukraine, religious sites remain a personal fetish for the Russian leader. He identified the Sviatohirsk Lavra as the closest to the front lines, noting that the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra is currently out of reach and the Pochaiv Lavra is too far west. The diplomat added that further Russian advances depend on potential political shifts in Europe and the United States.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
According to RISU, the Kherson regional military administration reported that a Russian strike damaged the Church of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in Kherson, Ukraine. Governor Oleksandr Prokudin stated on Telegram that the historic Catholic temple was hit during overnight attacks involving aircraft, drones, and artillery. The assault affected over 40 settlements in the region, causing damage to residential buildings, a museum, and infrastructure. This incident highlights the ongoing threat to cultural and religious sites in the occupied city amid continued hostilities.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
The Supreme Court of Ukraine rejected the Lviv City Council's appeal regarding a Ukrainian Orthodox Church chapel on Maloholoskivska Street. Lower courts previously denied the council's demand to demolish the structure, ruling that the parish only uses the site rather than owning it. The court found insufficient evidence that the current parish illegally occupied the land. The decision is final, and the city council must pay the court fees. This outcome prevents the removal of the chapel despite claims of unauthorized construction on restricted land.
Translated from Українська
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