RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
Patriarch Sviatoslav of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church stated that maintaining human dignity during the war is itself a form of victory. In a video address shared by the church's information department, he highlighted Russian tactics of double strikes that target rescue workers and medics after initial attacks. The Patriarch explained that Russia fights not only against Ukrainian infrastructure but also against human dignity, turning civilians into targets and using fear as a weapon. He emphasized that preserving humanity in these conditions is the current goal of the struggle.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
The Vatican will screen a film by Hungarian director Attila Bokor about Theodor Romja, a Greek Catholic bishop from Zakarpattia. The movie covers his final days and martyrdom under Soviet pressure. The event honors his 2001 beatification by Pope John Paul II. A discussion with the director follows the screening. Romja refused to leave communion with Rome and died in 1947 after a suspected poisoning. The film highlights faith and human dignity.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
A Russian FPV drone struck a monastery of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the village of Chervonyi Maiak, Kherson region, Ukraine, killing one priest and wounding four others. Alexander Prokudin, head of the Kherson regional military administration, confirmed the attack and expressed condolences to the victim's family. The injured clergy members were diagnosed with mine-explosive injuries. This incident highlights the ongoing targeting of civilian and religious sites in the frontline area of Kherson, which faces frequent Russian strikes. Authorities and medical staff are currently providing assistance to the wounded, while the final number of casualties remains under verification.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
Police in Lviv, Ukraine, are investigating an incident at the Vladimir and Olga Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church where a man with mental health issues attacked a priest. The event occurred on the morning of September 20 around 10:00 AM. According to local outlet Tvoye Mistso, the individual attempted to disrupt the service but was stopped by the clergy and congregants before being handed over to authorities. The man was transported to a specialized medical facility. While initial social media reports claimed a knife was involved, police have not confirmed this detail. Authorities are currently determining the legal classification of the assault.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇻🇦 Vatican City·
Cardinal Michael Czerny will be the first recipient of the Leo XIV Medal for Sustainable Development. Pope Francis is scheduled to present the award on October 13, 2026, in Vatican City. The ceremony will take place during an international conference organized by Villanova University in Castel Gandolfo. The event focuses on responding to the cries of the Earth and the poor. Manuela Prizumut-Payan from Villanova Business School outlined the program, which aims to connect scholars with activists from the Global South. The conference addresses ecological sustainability, ethics, and social justice.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇨🇳 China·
A pastor from an unregistered church in a city in China has been released after more than four years of detention, according to reports citing The Christian Post. Authorities accused him of threatening national security. The report details severe mistreatment, including torture and forced medication, endured by him and two other church leaders since their arrest in August 2022. While this pastor returned home, the fate of a senior pastor and a preacher remains uncertain, with the senior pastor recently re-arrested from a hospital due to critical health issues. The incident highlights ongoing repression against independent Christian communities in the region.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
According to the Information and Educational Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, a Russian airstrike injured Archpriest Pavel in Sumy, Ukraine. The priest and his son Vasyl were in a car near the explosion while buying bread for a soup kitchen. Pavel suffered severe injuries, including the amputation of one eye and shrapnel wounds to his face and body. Vasyl sustained only minor cuts from glass. The church states that Pavel requires long-term rehabilitation and prosthetics. The Sumy Diocese is asking for financial support to help the family cover medical costs.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
According to Vitaliy Panchenko, head of the Ternopil Regional Prosecutor's Office, four legal cases concerning religious organizations of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church are currently under review in courts in Ternopil and Kyiv. Three lawsuits were initiated by prosecutors, while one involves the Ternopil Regional Military Administration. The disputes focus on returning property to state ownership and reclaiming land plots from illegal possession. Specific cases include issues regarding the Pochaiv Lavra, the Holy Trinity Skete, and architectural monuments in Pochaiv and Staryi Pochaiv. These proceedings aim to rectify alleged illegal registrations and return assets to the state.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
Pilgrims and monks at the Pochaiv Lavra in Ukraine attribute Russian missile strikes to the devil rather than the Russian state. According to RISU, visitors expressed views that spiritual weakness, not politics, drives the conflict. Some blamed the United States or claimed Ukraine provoked the war. These sentiments echo similar narratives heard three years ago. The report notes that while such opinions are not proof of official Lavra propaganda, they reflect persistent disinformation among some visitors.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
In Mykolaiv Oblast, Ukraine, a community of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, led by its rector Father Roman Mykhailyuk, has transferred to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. According to RISU, 31 of 34 active members voted in favor of the change on September 15. In response, the local diocese issued a ban on Father Roman's ministry, backdating the order to September 14. The priest stated that support for the war by the Russian Orthodox Church prompted the decision, noting that previous appeals to church leadership were ignored. This move reflects a broader trend of Ukrainian parishes seeking independence from Moscow's influence amid the ongoing conflict.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
The Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations has appealed to global religious leaders to prevent starvation among civilians trapped in Oleshky, Ukraine. The city, located in Russian-occupied territory, faces a severe humanitarian crisis due to a blockade that has cut off food supplies since late May 2026. Approximately 6,000 residents, including 200 children, remain in the area without water, medicine, or electricity. The council contacted Pope Leo XIV and other faith groups, urging them to advocate for evacuation missions. International organizations are also being asked to intervene to stop mass deaths caused by the ongoing conflict and infrastructure destruction.
Translated from УкраїнськаAlso reported by 1 other outlet
The Renovabis charity, supported by the German Catholic Church, held its 30th international congress in Freising, Germany, from September 16 to 18, 2026. Over 200 delegates from 26 countries gathered to discuss overcoming societal polarization. Cardinal Mario Greca emphasized dialogue as a remedy for division, while Ukrainian Caritas President Tetiana Stavnycha highlighted the importance of shared resilience. The event showcased cooperation between Caritas Ukraine and Renovabis, which has engaged hundreds of parishes in humanitarian aid since 2018. The next congress will take place in Berlin in 2027, focusing on mental health in war-affected regions.
Translated from УкраїнськаAlso reported by 1 other outlet
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
An appellate court in Ukraine has upheld the conviction of Metropolitan Antoniy (Fialko), the former head of the Khmelnytskyi diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate. The court confirmed a two-year probation period and a ban on holding religious leadership positions. Fialko was originally sentenced for inciting religious hatred after a 2022 sermon urging followers to use weapons against those supporting the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. The video was published online in 2024. Fialko denied guilt, claiming the footage was fabricated. The case arose following tensions in Khmelnytskyi, where parishioners protested and moved to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. The defense now has three months to file a cassation appeal.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
A priest from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate will face retrial in Zhytomyr Oblast, Ukraine. He is accused of justifying Russian aggression by claiming Russian troops were not occupying Kyiv region areas. Witnesses stated he called such reports fake news. The initial court sentenced him to three years of probation, but an appeal overturned the verdict due to procedural violations. The case, number 289/404/23, will resume on September 24 at the Radomyshl District Court. The priest denies guilt, alleging he was framed for refusing to switch to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
According to Vatican News, the community of Eastern Rite Franciscan brothers in Ukraine now numbers 25 monks serving during the ongoing war. Father Arseniy Valikhnovsky, a founding member, discussed their history with Vatican media. The group traces its roots to early 20th-century efforts and a 1992 establishment in Ternopil. Today, they operate monasteries in several cities, including Uzhhorod and Lviv. During the full-scale invasion, their centers became humanitarian hubs. Father Arseniy emphasizes that following Saint Francis's example of humility helps them provide spiritual hope and pastoral care to people facing fear and loss in the current crisis.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
Archbishop Iona Cherepanov of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) publicly defended joint liturgical services with Russian clergy on social media. He criticized the view that such cooperation is unacceptable, stating that his church has not severed Eucharistic communion with the Russian Orthodox Church. This stance drew sharp criticism from public figure Edgar Kalancha, who argued that the church has shifted from claiming severed ties to normalizing collaboration with the aggressor nation. Kalancha warned that this represents a loss in the information war and highlighted the influence of foreign intelligence operations on Ukrainian society.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
A court in Donetsk has ordered the closure of a Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) parish due to the collaborationist activities of its rector, Protodeacon Mykola Zirka. According to LB.ua, citing Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) materials, the decision follows Zirka's earlier conviction by the Dnipro Industrial District Court for collaboration, which resulted in a seven-year prison sentence. Although he was exchanged as a prisoner of war in 2023, the legal framework mandates the termination of religious organizations whose leaders are convicted of crimes against national security. This ruling demonstrates the practical application of laws targeting groups linked to the Russian Orthodox Church, addressing previous criticisms regarding the need to prove specific connections to Moscow.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
Ukrainian authorities are attempting to terminate the lease agreement with the Pochaiv Lavra in Ukraine due to its affiliation with the Russian Orthodox Church. The state agency DESS cited the monastery's inclusion in the Moscow Patriarchate's structure as grounds for separation. Lawyers for the Lavra have requested a two-month extension to comply with the order, arguing that convening a spiritual council requires more time. Meanwhile, the state is pursuing legal actions to reclaim land and inventory religious artifacts, citing unauthorized renovations and missing icons. The article also notes that some pilgrims expressed pro-Russian narratives regarding the ongoing war.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
The 19th Ecumenical Social Week will take place in Lviv, Ukraine, in October 2026. Organizers, including the Institute of Ecumenical Studies of the Ukrainian Catholic University and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, aim to foster solidarity amid societal polarization. Over 200 participants, including Thomas Seding and Vitaliy Portnikov, will discuss how churches and civil society can rebuild trust and justice following the Russian war. The forum explores new models for social unity and international partnership. Registration closes on October 2, 2026.
Translated from Українська
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