RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
Patriarch Sviatoslav of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church stated that Russia disregards diplomacy and only responds to military force. He shared these views in an interview with Il Foglio regarding Archbishop Gallagher’s visit to Moscow. Sviatoslav argued that Russian officials dismissed Gallagher’s peace message as an empty slogan, proving Moscow’s contempt for dialogue. He noted that discussing peace in Russia is treated as a crime. The Patriarch praised Pope Leo XIV’s clear stance on human dignity and the war in Europe, stating that Vatican diplomacy is highly valued in Ukraine for its firm principles against the conflict. (Source: RISU)
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
The European Parliament held a conference titled 'Russia as a False Defender of Traditional Values' to examine the role of the Russian Orthodox Church in Europe. Organized by the European Conservatives and Reformists group and the Frontline Foundation, the event featured MEPs, former intelligence officials, and experts. A representative from Ukraine’s National Institute for Resilience and Security presented research showing over 600 Russian Orthodox structures in the EU, compared to roughly 25 Ukrainian Orthodox chaplaincies. Speakers argued that Moscow uses religious rhetoric and the 'Russian World' concept to exert political influence. Participants called for stricter sanctions, financial transparency, and support for Ukrainian religious communities abroad.
Translated from УкраїнськаAlso reported by 1 other outlet
Henry Wilson-Smith, head of CAFOD’s emergency response program in Ukraine, told Vatican News that Ukrainian solidarity inspires aid workers. The British Catholic charity reports that over 22,000 people received assistance in 2025 through local partners like Caritas. Support included hot meals, fuel, housing vouchers, and financial aid. Wilson-Smith noted that many local aid workers are themselves displaced persons who continue to serve others despite their own trauma. The organization emphasizes two-way solidarity, where European resources meet Ukrainian resilience, strengthening community leadership through grants to civil society initiatives.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
Russian authorities in Crimea opened an administrative case against Imam Sadiq Urinbaev for conducting Friday prayers without official registration. Police issued a protocol on September 2 in the Bakhchysarai district, citing violations of missionary activity rules. Urinbaev denies guilt, stating his religious practice is lawful. The case may result in a fine of up to 50,000 rubles. This action follows Urinbaev's public campaign to free his daughter, Nasiba Saidova, who remains detained in Simferopol on charges linked to the banned group Hizb ut-Tahrir. RISU reports this reflects broader pressure on independent Muslim communities in the region.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
The State Service of Ukraine for Ethnocultural and Freedom of Conscience Affairs announced on September 9 that the Borispol Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church shows signs of affiliation with a banned religious organization. The agency's investigation, conducted from August 24 to September 9, determined that the eparchy is a structural unit of the Kyiv Metropolis, which is legally recognized as affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church. The Russian Orthodox Church's activities are prohibited in Ukraine. The decision was issued based on relevant Ukrainian laws regarding religious organizations and the protection of the constitutional order. The agency confirmed that the eparchy's statutes demonstrate its belonging to the Kyiv Metropolis structure.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
In Kharkiv, Ukraine, the Orthodox community 'Pravoslavni Skhidnyaky' provides spiritual and emotional support during the war. Led by priest Dmytro Shapovalov and Ernest Akopov, the group uses social media to reach believers. They hold services in Ukrainian and offer counseling without judgment. The community focuses on dialogue, volunteer work, and helping displaced persons. According to the outlet, this approach helps people find answers and comfort in uncertain times.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
The court hearing regarding the liquidation of the Kyiv Metropolis of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) has been postponed to October 7. According to hromadske, the trial in the Sixth Appellate Administrative Court has lasted a year without a final decision. Before the September 10 session, supporters of the church, guided by Metropolitan Nikita Chekman, submitted numerous claims to join the case as participants. The State Service for Ethnic Affairs and Freedom of Conscience alleges this is a tactic to delay proceedings. The next hearing will address these claims. This legal action follows legislation signed by the President banning religious organizations linked to Russia.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇦🇲 Armenia·
The Supreme Spiritual Council of the Armenian Apostolic Church has condemned the government's attempt to interfere in internal church matters. The conflict escalated after Catholicos Garegin II removed a bishop who supported Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian's reforms. A criminal case was filed against the Catholicos and six bishops for allegedly ignoring a court order to reinstate the dismissed cleric. Human rights defender Isabella Sarksyan stated the trial violates church autonomy. The Court of Cassation recently returned the case to the Armavir region court for reconsideration. The proceedings have sparked widespread outrage among believers and international observers.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
Volunteers in the Rivne region of Ukraine have opened a kitchen to prepare meals for soldiers, supported by the Vatican. Initiator Tetyana Pinchuk collaborated with the Apostolic Nunciature in Ukraine. Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas assigned Father Viktor Bilous to manage the project. The Apostolic Chamber approved funding, allowing Bilous to deliver aid to Berest. Local women cook and package food in heat-resistant bags for long-term storage. Father Bilous noted the initiative provides high-calorie meals that boost soldier endurance. He praised the volunteers' dedication and faith, highlighting the effective cooperation between the Catholic Church and local Orthodox and Protestant women in supporting the military effort.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
The Public-Military Movement (GVR) issued a statement asserting that the Pochaiv Lavra must serve Ukraine and its people. The group emphasized that granting the religious community a deadline to cut ties with the Russian Orthodox Church is a procedural legal requirement, not a delay tactic. According to Ukrainian News, the GVR called on the State Property Fund and the Ministry of Culture to prepare legal evidence for court proceedings if the deadline passes without compliance. They also urged the Security Service of Ukraine and the National Police to prevent the removal of icons and religious artifacts. The movement plans to monitor the situation closely.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇬🇪 Georgia·
The Georgian Orthodox Church has expressed outrage after a Russian military unit was named after Saint Gavriil Urgebadze. Andrei Jagmaide, head of the Patriarchate's press service, stated the decision was made without consulting the Georgian Church. The controversy arose when pro-Russian activists visited occupied Donetsk, delivering icons and supplies to units bearing the saint's name. The Patriarchate distanced itself from the initiative, calling it a speculation on behalf of the Church. They emphasized that the saint should not be used to justify military actions, noting that the authors likely misunderstood the saint's life.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
Representatives of the Council of Churches and Religious Organizations of Ukraine met with a delegation from the German state of Baden-Wurttemberg. The Ukrainian side briefed the guests on the humanitarian situation, the role of faith groups in supporting society during the ongoing Russian war, and religious persecution in occupied territories. German Minister M. Haegel described the visit as an act of solidarity aimed at strengthening Ukraine. Participants included Metropolitan Evstratiy, Bishop Oleksandr Yazlovetskyi, and other senior religious leaders. The meeting, facilitated by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, resulted in agreed directions for future cooperation between the two sides.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
Bishop Igor Rantsa of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church announced plans to convert a vacant hotel near the Ukrainian church in Lourdes, France, into a center for healing war-related physical, psychological, and spiritual wounds. The initiative aims to address long-term consequences of the conflict on Ukrainians. A fundraising event is scheduled for September 13 within the diocese, with a donor pledging to double the collected amount. The diocese invites ideas and support to help the site serve those affected by Russian aggression.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
In Chernivtsi, Ukraine, state enforcement officials attempted to execute a court ruling transferring the Holy Spirit Cathedral from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. On September 10, 2026, an official stated that while the Moscow-linked group claimed no staff or property remained, police and witnesses found unidentified individuals blocking access. Consequently, the transfer was not completed voluntarily. Authorities plan to enforce the decision forcibly, warning of potential fines if the opposing group is proven to be the debtor. This follows previous tensions and earlier municipal decisions regarding land rights in the region.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇷🇺 Russia·
The Center for Public Monitoring, cited by RISU, argues that the Russian Orthodox Church is mobilizing society for war. A September 2026 cross-procession in Moscow featured relics of Prince Dmitry Donskoy and nationalist groups. The event aimed to demonstrate unity and justify the conflict. Patriarch Kirill and Archbishop Sava promoted narratives of national revival and spiritual strength. The analysis suggests the church collaborates with state propaganda and radical movements to create a transnational infrastructure supporting the Kremlin's political goals.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
The Russian Orthodox Church has moved a reliquary containing a fragment of St. Dmitry Donskoy’s right hand to the combat zone in Ukraine. According to the Moscow Times and the Church’s synodal department, the relics are traveling to the line of contact to spiritually support defenders. Earlier, the relics were displayed at the Saurova Mohyla memorial in the Donetsk region. Metropolitan Vladimir of Donetsk and Mariupol and Metropolitan Kirill of Stavropol and Nevinnomyssk led prayers there. The Church states the move symbolizes divine assistance for the military and civilians in the Donbas region. St. Dmitry Donskoy was canonized in 1988.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
An exhibition commemorating the 340th anniversary of the annexation of the Kyiv Metropolitanate by the Russian Orthodox Church has opened in occupied Sevastopol, Ukraine. Organized with the blessing of Metropolitan Tikhon Shevkunov, the event displays historical documents related to Emelyan Ukraintsev. Officials from Sevastopol State University and local religious groups participated in the opening. The exhibition, which runs until December 4, promotes a narrative linking the transfer of ecclesiastical authority to Russian state interests. Russian Metropolitan Antoniy Sevryuk previously defended this historical interpretation, claiming it restores justice and unity, while alleging persecution of the Moscow Patriarchate church in Ukraine.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
The Center for Countering Disinformation of Ukraine's National Security Council states that Patriarch Kirill's visit to an injured metropolitan sanctifies Russia's war against Ukraine. According to the outlet, Kirill claimed the bishop suffered for his correct position and blamed demons for threatening Holy Rus. The group argues this rhetoric integrates the Russian Orthodox Church into state propaganda, replacing calls for peace with justification for aggression. They assert the church now serves as an ideological unit of the regime, glorifying Putin and blessing killings of Ukrainians.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
Sviatoslav Shevchuk, head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, met with energy expert Andriy Kobylev in Kyiv to discuss community energy resilience amid the war. The meeting included clergy members who highlighted the Church's educational efforts on energy efficiency. Participants addressed vulnerabilities in centralized utility systems caused by Russian attacks. They reviewed practical solutions like solar panels and autonomous water supplies, citing the Patriarchal Curia's successful upgrades. The Church aims to share this experience with parishes, seeking expert guidance and international partnerships to fund necessary equipment for continued social services during power outages.
Translated from Українська
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