RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
Ukrainian police announced on August 20 that they have filed an in absentia suspicion against a former Ukrainian Orthodox Church priest who became a Russian Orthodox Church chaplain. The man, originally from Zakarpattia, was removed from service in 2015 for pro-Russian views. He moved to occupied Sevastopol and later supported Russia's war, receiving awards from the aggressor state. Authorities charged him under articles justifying aggression and collaboration. The Zakarpattia regional prosecutor's office is leading the investigation, with potential sentences of up to 12 years in prison.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
Parishioners of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC MP) launched a cross procession from Kamianets-Podilskyi to Pochaiv on August 19. The group, comprising over 500 participants, is traveling a nearly 300-kilometer route through the Khmelnytskyi region. Local media reported that authorities received no formal requests to approve the event. This occurred despite a regional governor's order banning peaceful assemblies and marches. Police are accompanying the column to prevent traffic accidents and other safety issues, according to regional administration official Lyudmyla Cherevchenko.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
Metropolitan Epiphanius, head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, handed over 80 portable defibrillators to Ukrainian military personnel. The donation was announced by the Information Department of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. During the meeting, the primate thanked the guests for their dedicated service. The specialized medical devices were acquired with the assistance of Archpriest Volodymyr Shtyak, who serves as the rector of the Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Andrew in Washington, United States. This contribution aims to support the health and emergency care needs of the country's defenders.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
The Sumy Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church reported that the Stretensky Church in Sumy, Ukraine, was damaged by a Russian attack in the early hours of August 21, 2026. According to the eparchy, the blast wave destroyed domes, the roof, and windows. The group stated that the church has suffered previous damage from Russian shelling but assured that repairs would be made and parish life would continue. This information was relayed by Ukrinform.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
The Greek-Sophia Church in Kherson, Ukraine, was damaged by a Russian strike before the start of a festive liturgy. Protodeacon Vitaliy Malaniy reported the incident to the Most outlet. Built in the 1780s by the Greek community, the structure is one of the city's oldest buildings. It houses a wooden iconostasis approximately 450 years old. The church has never ceased operations throughout its history but has been targeted multiple times since the full-scale invasion began. The damage highlights the ongoing vulnerability of cultural and religious sites in the region.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
A man will face trial in Lviv, Ukraine, for arson at an Islamic religious and cultural center. According to the Lviv Regional Prosecutor's Office, the incident occurred in April when the suspect threw Molotov cocktails at the building. The fire damaged property belonging to the religious community and the shopping center housing the facility. Total damages exceed 315,000 hryvnias. Investigators determined the act was motivated by religious hatred. The suspect is charged with damaging a religious structure and intentional property destruction by arson under Ukrainian criminal law. The investigation was conducted by local police and the Security Service of Ukraine.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇷🇺 Russia·
The Russian Orthodox Church plans to send fragments of the relics of St. Dmitry Donskoy to the front lines in Ukraine. Vakhtang Kipshidze, a representative of the Moscow Patriarchate, stated that military priests and soldiers have expressed a desire to venerate the relics. This decision follows the opening of the saint's sarcophagus in the Archangel Cathedral in Moscow during restoration work. Patriarch Kirill blessed the move, and pro-war figures interpreted the discovery as a sign of victory. The relics will be distributed to some Russian churches, with a portion sent to the conflict zone.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
Clergy from the Balt eparchy in Ukraine have written an open letter to Metropolitan Onufriy, expressing outrage over Bishop Alexiy's decision to resume praying for Patriarch Kirill of Moscow during services. The priests, who spoke to RISU, state that this action contradicts the church's stance since 2022 and causes confusion among parishioners. They also criticize the bishop's public claims of unity with the Russian Orthodox Church and his disagreement with the Theophania Council's decisions. The clergy fear these actions undermine their pastoral authority and create division within the community.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇨🇳 China·
A British politician has strongly criticized the temporary agreement between the Vatican and China regarding the appointment of Catholic bishops. Speaking to Crux, the House of Lords member described the deal with the Chinese Communist regime as a compromise with a government accused of human rights abuses. The politician argues the pact has silenced the Church regarding religious freedom violations and betrayed underground Catholics. This criticism aligns with concerns raised by another peer and reports from the Hudson Institute, which note increased repression of clergy since the 2018 accord. The current extension of the agreement runs until October 2028.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
According to ZAXID.NET, the Volyn Regional Military Conscription Center mobilized Archimandrite Antoniy, a priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate. On August 17, officials stopped his vehicle in the Lokachyn district and verified his military registration. Spokesperson Daria Stelmashchuk stated that the priest voluntarily reported to the center for a medical examination. He was deemed fit for service and sent to a training center for basic military preparation. The local diocese announced his detention on August 18 and asked believers to pray for him. This event highlights the ongoing enforcement of conscription laws on clergy in Ukraine.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇷🇺 Russia·
A Russian Orthodox priest, identified as Butrin, labeled citizens complaining about fuel shortages as unspiritual and non-churchly. He urged obedience to state authority, citing Saint Seraphim of Sarov. This statement coincides with increased arrests and fines for Russians voicing grievances over gasoline scarcity. In Volgograd, five individuals were penalized for recording videos criticizing unequal fuel distribution, while a Perm resident was fined for planning a rally. The crisis stems from Ukrainian strikes on refineries, leaving 70% of Russian gas stations without supply. Authorities are prioritizing Moscow ahead of elections, exacerbating regional shortages.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
A Ukrainian court has suspended proceedings to liquidate the Korzec Holy Trinity Monastery in the Rivne region. The State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Politics and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) sought to shut down the institution due to its ties to the banned Russian Orthodox Church. The Sixth Appellate Administrative Court halted the case after the monastery filed a counterclaim alleging procedural violations. This pause remains in effect until the court reviews its own ruling from March 16, 2026. DESS had previously appealed a decision that blocked restrictions on the monastery's property. The organization retains the right to resubmit its lawsuit if it complies with legal requirements.
Translated from УкраїнськаAlso reported by 1 other outlet
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
According to RISU, Bishop Peter of Berdiansk and Primorsk issued orders replacing local Ukrainian Orthodox Church clergy in occupied Melitopol with priests from Russia. Father Vadim Antonov and Archpriest Vitaliy Zhitko were reassigned to different parishes in the region. Father Alexander Bednov was transferred to the village of Veselyi. Local sources claim this is part of a broader strategy by the Russian Orthodox Church to consolidate control and financial resources in the occupied territories, replacing indigenous leaders with appointees from Moscow.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
The State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Affairs and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) has launched an investigation into the Borispol eparchy led by Metropolitan Antonii Pakanych. According to the agency's press service, this action fulfills requirements under Ukraine's Law on Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations. The review aims to determine if the religious group shows affiliation with the Russian Orthodox Church, whose activities are banned in Ukraine. DESS states it operates within current legislation and respects religious freedom, but will thoroughly examine any signs of foreign influence from prohibited structures. The results will be publicly presented to society.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇮🇱 Israel·
Police in Israel arrested a 20-year-old resident of Jaffa after he damaged statues and crosses inside a Catholic church on Sunday, August 16. Officers found broken sculptures and cross fragments scattered on the floor and pews. The suspect was taken into custody for questioning, though authorities have not disclosed a motive. This incident occurs amid rising aggression against Christians in the country. Data from the Religious Freedom Data Center shows 83 recorded cases between April and June 2026, compared to 44 in the same period the previous year. Most attacks took place in Jerusalem, particularly in the Old City.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
The head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine visited the new Unbroken rehabilitation center in Lviv, Ukraine. He was accompanied by Metropolitan Macarius of Lviv and other clergy. The group met with wounded Ukrainian soldiers undergoing treatment and spoke with staff. The church leader blessed the new building, consecrated a cornerstone, and laid a foundation stone for a future church dedicated to the Protection of the Theotokos. This visit follows a recent controversy in Lviv regarding the invitation of a Moscow Patriarchate bishop to the center's opening event.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
In Kamian-Kashyrskyi, Ukraine, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (OCU) congregation has been denied access to its historic wooden church for eighteen months. Although the Volyn Regional State Administration officially registered the community as part of the OCU in September 2023, supporters of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) have blocked entry and posted guards. According to RISU, citing BUG, the opposing group ignores state authorities and delays court proceedings. The OCU filed a lawsuit in spring 2025, but hearings have been repeatedly postponed due to procedural maneuvers by the defendants. The case remains ongoing despite previous rulings favoring the registered community.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
A fire broke out on August 18 at a monastery skit in the village of Hrushovo, Zakarpattia region, Ukraine. Emergency services were alerted at 17:31 after residents noticed smoke and a strange odor. Firefighters from Teresva and rescue teams from Tyachiv arrived to find flames covering most of the building and spreading to the roof. The plastic-clad walls accelerated the spread of the fire. Within an hour, crews extinguished the blaze over a 100-square-meter area. The incident destroyed the roof, church furnishings, and religious symbols, while also damaging ceilings and service books, according to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
Metropolitan Ilarion of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) has issued an appeal to parishioners of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). Published on the website of the Rivne Eparchy, the address urges both groups to build a single local Orthodox Church together. Metropolitan Ilarion emphasizes that spiritual unity must arise from prayer and conscience rather than legal mandates. He acknowledges that many UOC clergy support Ukraine but argues that lingering ties to Moscow are unacceptable. The metropolitan invites dialogue without coercion, aiming to heal divisions and ensure the church serves the Ukrainian nation independently of Russian influence.
Translated from Українська
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