<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" version="2.0"><channel><title>News and articles UOJ</title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/</link><description>Articles and news about Orthodoxy, UOC and Christianity</description><language>en</language><lastBuildDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2026 18:10:55 +0300</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://spzh.eu/en/rss" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /><item><title><![CDATA[Muslims threaten 12-year-old girl in Italy: "Put on a burqa, or we'll kill you"]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93794-put-on-a-burqa-or-well-kill-you-muslims-threatened-a-12-year-old-girl-in-italy</link><description><![CDATA[In the city of Livorno, a group of radical migrants intimidated a child for refusing to follow the Islamic dress code and behavioral norms.]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2026 17:43:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[The Italian police have launched an investigation into an incident in which a group of adults threatened to kill a 12-year-old girl. The reason for the aggression was that the child’s clothing and manner of behavior did not comply with strict religious prescriptions, reports the Ghana News Agency.
According to the mother’s statement filed with law enforcement authorities, the incident occurred in the Parterre public park. A group of immigrants from Bangladesh approached the girl while she was in the company of her peers.
One of the women, who regularly wears a burqa, expressed complaints to a child over not complying with Islamic clothing rules. “Be careful, otherwise we will kill you,” police quoted the content of the threats received by the child.
The victim’s mother, who is Hindu, emphasized that this is not the first case of pressure from the radical segment of their compatriot community. The woman explained that her husband is Muslim; however, the family has decided to allow their daughter the right to independently choose her religious path in the future.
Блок - по темі (Italian authorities deport imam over justification of child marriage)
According to the complainant, the attackers belong to a group that actively promotes strict observance of religious dogmas among migrants in Italy. At present, the Livorno State Police are investigating the complaint and establishing the identities of all participants in the incident.
As the UOJ reported, a proposal was made in Italy to ban the burqa and tighten control over mosques.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93794-put-on-a-burqa-or-well-kill-you-muslims-threatened-a-12-year-old-girl-in-italy</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[In Poltava, UOC volunteers hold charity fair to support children]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93793-in-poltava-uoc-volunteers-held-a-charity-fair-to-help-children</link><description><![CDATA[The diocesan charity center “Blaho” organized the “There Are No Other People’s Children” event outside the St. Macarius Cathedral.]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2026 17:16:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[On Sunday, June 14, 2026, a large-scale charity fair took place on the grounds of the St. Macarius Cathedral in Poltava, reports the Poltava Eparchy.
The event was organized by members of the volunteer center “Blaho,” which operates under the Department of Charity and Social Ministry of the Poltava Eparchy. Parishioners of the cathedral and guests of the city were able to purchase handmade items and baked goods, thus making their contribution to the work of mercy.
All funds raised will be directed by volunteers toward purchasing humanitarian assistance for children’s institutions and care facilities for children who are without parental care or in difficult life situations.
Блок - по темі (UOC clergy in Poltava deliver aid to hospitals and social centers)
The eparchy expressed sincere gratitude to everyone who joined this initiative by supporting the fair with their donations, personal effort, and compassion.
As the UOJ reported, a UOC community held a charity festival in Kropyvnytskyi.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93793-in-poltava-uoc-volunteers-held-a-charity-fair-to-help-children</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[In Hawaii, more than 100 people embrace Orthodoxy at ROCOR parish]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93792-in-hawaii-more-than-100-people-embraced-orthodoxy-at-an-rocor-parish</link><description><![CDATA[More than 60 Americans are currently undergoing preparation for future baptism.]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2026 17:05:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[The Orthodox parish of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God (ROCOR) in Kailua, Hawaii, has reported a record increase in parishioners. According to the church rector and guardian of the wonderworking myrrh-streaming Hawaiian Iveron Icon of the Mother of God, Priest Nektary Yangson, more than 100 people have been baptized into the community over the past 12 months, reports OrthoChristian.
In the first half of June 2026 alone, 15 new souls entered the bosom of the Church. Of these, four received holy Baptism, while another 11 people officially joined the ranks of the catechumens.
“Every soul coming to Christ is a miracle,” Father Nektary emphasized. “In a world seeking truth, meaning, and hope, this is a powerful reminder that the Holy Spirit continues to draw men, women, and children into the Ark of Salvation.” The cleric noted that the new faithful come from very different walks of life and have various backgrounds, but all of them have been united by the Orthodox faith.
Блок - по темі (In Kosovo, two US servicemen receive baptism in Serbian Orthodox Church)
At present, the parish is caring for more than 60 catechumens and truth-seeking Americans who are actively studying the basics of Orthodoxy. According to the clergyman, about 12 more people are preparing to receive Baptism in the coming weeks.
As the UOJ reported, ten Americans embraced Orthodoxy in the state of Oregon on the Feast of Trinity.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93792-in-hawaii-more-than-100-people-embraced-orthodoxy-at-an-rocor-parish</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why couldn't a negligent student be hanged in the Middle Ages?]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/istorija-i-kulytrua/93791-why-couldnt-a-negligent-student-be-hanged-in-the-middle-ages</link><description><![CDATA[The status of a cleric and papal bulls made the scholar immune to the city court and the enraged mob.]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2026 16:37:00 +0300</pubDate><category>History and Culture</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[A black mantle and a tonsure shaved on the top of the head — that is the only armor. By the standards of a medieval city, he is defenseless: a stranger without kin and without weapons, who is moreover disliked here. But when the guard comes toward him through the Parisian mud with halberds, the halberds are lowered. The guards let the outsider pass, even though they would gladly wring his neck. By law, they are not allowed to touch him—neither to detain him nor, even more so, to hang him.
How did a penniless scholar in that brutal age get such immunity?
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The mantle as body armor
The secret lay in clothing, or rather in what it signified. Even without being ordained, a medieval student was legally considered on par with the clergy: he wore a tonsure and was counted as part of a special clerical estate. And a cleric was judged not by the city but by an ecclesiastical court. This applied, among other things, to matters of life and death. Secular courts tortured criminals and sent them to the gallows, while the Church was forbidden to shed blood, and therefore simply could not sentence anyone to execution.

A scholar who proved his status would, in the worst case, escape with an ecclesiastical penalty where an ordinary townsman would already be facing the noose or the guillotine.

Strange as it may seem, the first law protecting students was enacted by a secular ruler. In 1158, Emperor Frederick Barbarossa issued a decree known as the Authentica habita. A student received protection on the road, was exempted from the savage "right of reprisal" (whereby anyone could be seized and condemned for another's debt), and, most importantly, was granted the right to choose his own magistrate or bishop as judge instead of the city magistrate. The decree was soon confirmed by Pope Alexander III and incorporated into the body of Roman law.
The Case of Bloodshed
The worth of this legal armor was best demonstrated by Paris in 1229. During Shrovetide, some tipsy scholars quarreled with a tavern keeper over the bill presented to them. The matter ended in a brawl; they were beaten and thrown into the street. The next day they returned with clubs — and at that point the guard intervened. With the consent of Queen Blanche, the mercenaries set upon the students in earnest, and several men were left lying on the cobblestones.
What happened next was something the city had not expected. The University neither complained nor submissively fell silent. It simply closed. The masters ceased to lecture, the scholars dispersed to other cities, and Paris was left for two years without students — and therefore without the money they spent and without the glory of being a center of learning. Thus an academic guild could simply pack up and vanish, like a Romani caravan.
That was enough to bring Rome into the matter. In 1231, Pope Gregory IX, who had himself once studied in Paris, issued the bull Parens scientiarum — "Mother of the Sciences" — which historians call the Magna Carta of the university. The Pope removed the university from the authority of the king and the local bishop, took it under his direct patronage, legalized the masters' right to strike, and threatened excommunication to anyone who infringed upon these rights.

Such a paradox: a drunken tavern brawl gave rise to a charter of academic freedom.

A Crack in the Shield
What exactly this armor protected against becomes clear in the case where it once developed a crack.
On 10 February 1355, the feast day of Saint Scholastica, Oxford students at the Swindlestock tavern quarreled with the proprietor over poor wine and threw a cup in his face. Within half an hour the argument had escalated into a brawl. On the second and third day, armed townsmen from the surrounding villages poured into the city with cries of "Kill them!" They broke into student lodgings, murdered scholars, and, according to eyewitness accounts, even scalped them.
When all fell quiet, some thirty townsmen and up to sixty-three members of the university lay dead in the streets. And this was Oxford, already endowed with every conceivable privilege. Cambridge, it should be noted, grew as an academic center in 1209 from students who had fled Oxford following the execution of two of their companions.
The Church as Protector
All of this sits poorly with the Enlightenment myth that the medieval Church stifled learning and that the university forced its way through in spite of her. The picture was the reverse. Without the estate of clerics and without canon law forbidding the shedding of students' blood, any school would have been destroyed — by a feudal lord or an enraged mob.

The imperial decree provided only the initial impetus. The load-bearing wall of the edifice of legal protection proved to be the Church herself: it was she who inscribed the scholar within an inviolable estate, and it was her jurisdiction that became the "roof" over the universities.

The black mantle with which we began this account is today worn at the master's graduation ceremony, when former students walk across the hall to receive their diplomas in long robes and square caps. Almost none of them know that this is not a carnival costume but a surviving trace of that very armor. Once upon a time, this attire signified that no official dare hang you for thinking differently from the rest.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/istorija-i-kulytrua/93791-why-couldnt-a-negligent-student-be-hanged-in-the-middle-ages</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[UOC eparchies deliver aid to Khmelnytskyi rehabilitation center ]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93790-uoc-dioceses-delivered-aid-to-a-rehabilitation-center-in-khmelnytskyi</link><description><![CDATA[The Khmelnytskyi and Shepetivka eparchies sent humanitarian aid for the treatment of wounded servicemen and the rehabilitation of patients after serious operations.]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2026 16:23:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[On June 15, 2026, the Khmelnytskyi Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, together with the volunteer charitable organization "God Is With Us," delivered medical aid to the Khmelnytskyi Regional Hospital, reports the UOC Information Center.
The medical staff received the necessary medicines and supplies, which will be used for treatment, patient care, and supporting the daily work of healthcare personnel.
“We thank Metropolitan Viktor and the Khmelnytskyi Diocese for the humanitarian aid provided,” said Konstantin Krenev, Deputy Director of the hospital. “These supplies will undoubtedly be used in the care and treatment of servicemen and critically injured patients..”
Блок - по темі (UOC donates equipment worth UAH 200,000 to Okhmatdyt)
delivered a shipment of medications, orthopedic supplies, and orthotic devices to a rehabilitation center. These items will help patients undergo recovery more comfortably and effectively following injuries, illnesses, and surgical procedures. The diocese expressed its sincere gratitude to the foreign benefactors whose support made it possible to assemble and donate the much-needed supplies
As the UOJ reported, a UOC parish in Korets donated 35,000 hryvnias for the treatment of children with cancer.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93790-uoc-dioceses-delivered-aid-to-a-rehabilitation-center-in-khmelnytskyi</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Metropolitan of Sliven expresses support for UOC clergy in Bulgaria]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93789-the-metropolitan-of-sliven-expressed-support-for-the-uoc-clergy-in-bulgaria</link><description><![CDATA[A hierarch of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church called attempts to cast doubt on the canonical status of UOC clerics unacceptable.]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2026 15:50:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[Metropolitan Arseniy of Sliven officially put a stop to attempts to question the legitimacy of the UOC priests and their spiritual mission among Ukrainian refugees. The corresponding statement was published on June 16, 2026, by the press service of the Bulgarian Church.
Metropolitan Arseniy of Sliven formally rejected attempts to question the legitimacy of UOC priests and their pastoral ministry among Ukrainian refugees. The statement was published by the press service of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church on June 16, 2026.
Metropolitan Arseniy firmly dismissed claims about the "substitution" of Bulgarian traditions during worship services, describing such allegations as a "spiritual sorrow." He explained that the UOC clergy hold services in the same Church Slavonic language as the Bulgarian priests, using the same liturgical books and following the canonical order of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.
“The priest serving in the aforementioned churches is a canonical Orthodox cleric,” Metropolitan Arseniy stated. “He was officially released by his canonical hierarch, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine, and was received into the Diocese of Sliven with the proper notification of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.”
The hierarch added: “We should be grateful to our Ukrainian Orthodox brothers and sisters for showing us what an attitude toward the Church and active participation in its life mean, and for setting us a good example.”
Блок - по темі (Book “Words, Messages, Answers” by Metropolitan Onuphry published in Bulgaria)
Exposing the systemic insensitivity of the authors of the “open letters,” the hierarch stated that the Church will not allow political sentiments to dictate terms. “No signatures, no pressure, and no public suggestion will change our spiritual principles and decisions. The Church is not a servant of fear or temporary moods, but a mother who receives those who suffer.”
He also added that “the Church is not an institution for the national selection of the suffering,” and called not to replace evangelical love with suspicion toward those who carry in their souls the wound of a crucified people.
The Metropolitan reminded that the national origin of a cleric does not determine his canonicity, and urged the public to rely on verified facts rather than on insinuations that generate unrest.
As the UOJ reported, the Patriarch of Bulgaria explained why his Church does not recognize the OCU.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93789-the-metropolitan-of-sliven-expressed-support-for-the-uoc-clergy-in-bulgaria</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[MP: UOC believers participating in religious processions are sectarians]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93788-believers-of-the-uoc-who-participate-in-religious-processions-are-sectarians-mp</link><description><![CDATA[An MP from the "European Solidarity" faction claimed that participants in prayer processions are allegedly completely devoid of critical thinking skills.]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2026 15:25:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[Ukrainian Member of Parliament Mykola Kniazhytsky, speaking on the program "Algorithms of Lies", said that believers of the canonical Church blindly follow their leaders and unquestioningly carry out any instructions they are given.
"For parishioners of the Russian church, the priest is a guru, a God. Whatever he says, that is what must be done. In fact, they are built in a system of sects," the politician claims, referring to the UOC as the Russian church. The MP paid special attention to participants in religious processions, calling them people "rejected from Ukrainian society."
“We often see these people in headscarves, taking part in so-called religious processions through the centers of Ukrainian cities. These are people who are being taught not to think critically,” Kniazhytsky added.
He also advanced the claim that the UOC clergy “are often FSB agents or individuals connected with them.
Блок - по темі (Communities are not joining OCU because it lacks priests, says MP)
In the deputy's opinion, it is precisely this "sectarian" hierarchical structure that allows the Church to maintain its network and influence in Ukraine. He emphasized that the UOC has "permeated all of Ukrainian society," which allegedly poses a threat to national security.
As the UOJ reported, the organizers of the religious procession to the Bancheny Monastery were fined.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93788-believers-of-the-uoc-who-participate-in-religious-processions-are-sectarians-mp</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[OCU  bishop urges authorities not to re-register Kremenchuk cathedral to UOC]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93787-the-ocu-called-on-the-authorities-not-to-re-register-the-cathedral-in-kremenchuk-back-to-the-uoc</link><description><![CDATA[Representatives of Dumenko’s structure accused the parishioners in Kremenchuk of “forging documents.”]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2026 14:40:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[“Archbishop” Agapit, Secretary of the Kyiv Metropolis of the OCU, has sent an appeal to Vitalii Diakyvnych, head of the Poltava Regional Military Administration, according to Kremenchukska Hazeta.
In his appeal, the OCU hierarch demanded that the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Kremenchuk not be returned to its lawful owners. The representative of Epifaniy Dumenko’s structure officially notified the authorities about what he described as an “unlawful assembly” held by UOC believers on June 14, 2026.
The OCU characterized the actions of the parishioners as a “criminal offense” and accused them of “forging documents.” “Archbishop” Agapit called on the Poltava Regional Military Administration not to carry out any registration actions based on the protocols adopted by members of the canonical Church.
Should the community submit documents seeking the restoration of its rights, the OCU leadership is asking the administration to initiate the inclusion of information in the Unified Register of Pre-Trial Investigations (ERDR) in order to pursue criminal proceedings against the organizers of the meeting.
Блок - по темі (Shrine transferred without our consent – parishioner of seized UOC cathedral)
Earlier in Kremenchuk, OCU cleric Feodosiy Ovcharuk locked the doors of Holy Trinity Cathedral in front of hundreds of parishioners who had spent 30 years building the shrine. Outside the church, 229 actual members of the community held a meeting and unanimously expressed no confidence in the OCU-appointed “rector.”
As the UOJ previously reported, a UOC archimandrite was beaten during the seizure of the cathedral in Kremenchuk.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93787-the-ocu-called-on-the-authorities-not-to-re-register-the-cathedral-in-kremenchuk-back-to-the-uoc</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Graduation held for choir director department of Zymne theological school ]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93785-a-graduation-of-the-choir-regency-department-of-the-theological-school-took-place-in-zimne</link><description><![CDATA[In the Zymne monastery, the awarding of diplomas to new choir directors was combined with celebrations marking the jubilees of Metropolitan Volodymyr and the monastery’s abbess.]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2026 13:30:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[On June 14, 2026, celebrations were held at the Sviatohirsk Dormition Zymne Stavropegial Monastery of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church on the occasion of the graduation of students from the choir director department of the Volodymyr-Volynskyi Theological School. This was reported by the UOC Information Center.
This year’s graduation ceremony brought together several significant dates in the life of the diocese and the monastery. The faithful honored Metropolitan Volodymyr on the 15th anniversary of his tenure on the see and also congratulated the monastery’s abbess, Mother Stefana, on the 35th anniversary of her service as abbess.
Metropolitan Volodymyr led the festive Divine Liturgy, during which the clergy and faithful prayed for peace on Ukrainian soil, for those celebrating their jubilees, and for the graduates.
After the Liturgy, the hierarch addressed those gathered with words of greeting and presented the young women with diplomas in theological education. The archpastor explained the importance of the church choir director’s mission and thanked the instructors for training new personnel for the kliros.
Блок - по темі (UOC bishops lead graduation celebrations at Pochaiv Seminary)
The teachers and graduates, in turn, congratulated the hierarch and Mother Abbess on their personal jubilees. The young women expressed deep gratitude to Mother Stefana for her motherly care and for the conditions created at the monastery for acquiring knowledge and spiritual growth.
As the UOJ reported, the Odesa Seminary presented the diploma works of its icon-painting department.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93785-a-graduation-of-the-choir-regency-department-of-the-theological-school-took-place-in-zimne</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Communities are not joining OCU because it lacks priests, says MP]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93784-communities-are-not-joining-the-ocu-because-there-are-no-priests-there-says-mp</link><description><![CDATA[The lawmaker attributed the slow pace of transfers to the OCU's limited institutional capacity.]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2026 13:19:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[Ukrainian MP Mykola Kniazhytskyi has stated that the OCU is "institutionally unprepared" to accommodate a large influx of parishes. Speaking on the program Algorithms of Lies, the co-author of the law banning religious organizations linked to Russia acknowledged that parish transfers from the UOC to the structure headed by Epifaniy Dumenko are taking place much more slowly than originally anticipated.
According to the politician, one of the main obstacles is the OCU’s internal impotence to expand by absorbing new parishes.
“They do not have enough priests, and many other issues are involved,” Kniazhytskyi explained. “It is not that they do not want this, but they lack resources, and the state does not care much about it.”
The parliamentarian also noted that Ukrainian courts are delaying proceedings in cases related to the religious sphere because they do not receive a “clear political signal.” According to him, state authorities and the OCU are doing “far too little work” with UOC clergy to guarantee them security and prospects should they decide to transfer.
Блок - по темі (Lotysh urges Lavra brethren to “come to their senses” and “return” to OCU)
As the UOJ previously reported, representatives of the OCU have complained about a personnel shortage.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93784-communities-are-not-joining-the-ocu-because-there-are-no-priests-there-says-mp</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Patriarch Bartholomew conveys words of support to Lavra brethren via Dumenko]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93783-patriarch-bartholomew-conveyed-words-of-support-to-the-lavra-brotherhood-through-dumenko</link><description><![CDATA[During a conversation with the head of the OCU, the Ecumenical Patriarch condemned the destruction of the Dormition Cathedral.]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2026 12:29:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[On June 15, 2026, a telephone conversation took place between Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and the head of the OCU, Epifaniy Dumenko, during which they discussed the attack on the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. This was reported by the OCU press service.
The head of the Phanar described the war as “diabolical” and expressed “deep sorrow” over the damage to the historic shrine. An official statement by the Patriarchate of Constantinople stressed that “no reasonable person can justify the barbaric attack” on a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The conversation also touched on the “brethren of the Lavra,” to whom Patriarch Bartholomew conveyed words of support through the head of the OCU. At the same time, the text does not specify whom exactly the Primate of Constantinople had in mind: the UOC monks who still live and pray in the Lower Lavra, or OCU representatives who are also employees of the Lavra reserve.
Блок - по темі (Phanar head mentions Dumenko at Liturgy with Patriarchs of Bulgaria and Romania)
Recall that since 2023, the Ukrainian authorities have been trying to force the UOC brethren out of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra: churches and buildings have been taken from them one after another, while court proceedings are underway to evict the monks from the monastery.
On May 12, 2026, museum employees cut off the locks and seized St. Anna’s Conception Church at the Far Caves, taking advantage of the fact that no one was inside. A month later, on June 11, representatives of the state structure seized the academic Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in the same way, cutting off the locks and unlawfully entering the shrine.
As the UOJ reported, Zelensky discussed the strike on the Lavra with Patriarch Bartholomew.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93783-patriarch-bartholomew-conveyed-words-of-support-to-the-lavra-brotherhood-through-dumenko</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Persecuted UOC community in Spaske celebrates patronal feast]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93782-persecuted-uoc-community-in-spasskoye-celebrated-its-patronal-feast</link><description><![CDATA[The faithful of the village of Spaske celebrated the Divine Liturgy in a repurposed room provided by parishioners after the forceful seizure of their church.]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2026 11:54:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[The UOC community of St. John the New of Suceava in the village of Spaske, Storozhynets Deanery, has celebrated its patronal feast day. The news was reported by believers of the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church on Facebook.
This is already the second year that parishioners have gathered not in their native church but in the yard of a private home made available by devoted members of the community. The festive Divine Liturgy was led by Archimandrite Vissarion, rector of the Church of St. Paraskeva in the village of Stari Broskivtsi, concelebrating with the parish rector, Fr. Oleksandr Chuvyk, and clergy of the diocese.
During the service, clergy and faithful prayed for peace on Ukrainian soil, for deliverance from the enemy, and for the preservation of those who have lost their homes because of the war. The rector and parishioners stressed that, despite being deprived of access to their seized church, the community has remained united and faithful to the Church.
Блок - по темі (UOC community in Razumivka builds new church to replace seized one)
As previously reported, on May 12, 2025, supporters of the OCU seized the Church of St. John the New of Suceava in Spaske. The takeover involved activists from the neighboring villages of Dubove and Mykhalcha under the leadership of Roman Hryshchuk and local chaplains. Since then, the UOC faithful have been forced to hold services in a house church.
As the UOJ reported, the “rector” of the seized cathedral in Kremenchuk refused to allow the UOC community to enter for prayer.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93782-persecuted-uoc-community-in-spasskoye-celebrated-its-patronal-feast</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Reserve announces cost of restoring Dormition Cathedral]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93780-the-reserve-announced-the-cost-of-restoring-the-dormition-cathedral</link><description><![CDATA[Full restoration of the Dormition Cathedral will take about two years.]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2026 11:07:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[The Director General of the National Reserve "Kyiv Pechersk Lavra" Maksym Ostapenko reported that the main work to eliminate the fire that broke out as a result of the attack has already been completed. Currently, State Emergency Service employees are engaged in dismantling dangerous structures and preparing the roof for preservation, reports Ukrinform.
"We are finishing the preparation of damage data, but it is obvious that the amount exceeds 500 million hryvnias," Ostapenko stated. "This is only initial information as of today, since additional data continues to come in."
The head of the Reserve emphasized that specialists consider the primary task to be assessing the condition of the cathedral's vaults, which were exposed to critically high temperatures. According to him, there was a real threat of a large-scale catastrophe inside the building.
"There was a risk of the vault collapsing inside the cathedral, and then the iconostasis and many other things could have caught fire," the director general explained. "It would have been very difficult to stop the fire, and we would have lost enormous works of art located inside the shrine."
He added that thanks to the work of more than 20 pieces of equipment, the destruction of the cathedral was avoided, although the fire had already begun to penetrate inside in two places.
Блок - по темі (MFA accuses UNESCO of weakness over statement on Lavra)
Assessing the prospects for restoring the cathedral, the head of the Reserve expressed cautious optimism regarding the timeline of the work. "I think that under normal conditions we will be able to restore the Dormition Cathedral within two years. I hope that we will be able to continue using it as the largest shrine of the Lavra," he concluded.
As the UOJ reported, the OCU called the shelling of the Dormition Cathedral retribution for blasphemy at the Lavra.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93780-the-reserve-announced-the-cost-of-restoring-the-dormition-cathedral</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[In Milan, Roman Catholic Archbishop celebrates Mass for LGBT community]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93779-in-milan-a-roman-catholic-archbishop-celebrated-mass-for-the-lgbt-community</link><description><![CDATA[In a Milan church, a worship service in honor of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus was turned into a venue for LGBT propaganda.]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2026 10:55:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[On June 12, 2026, Roman Catholic Church hierarch Archbishop Mario Delpini presided over a Mass for members of the Italian LGBT group "Il Gruppo del Guado" at the church of San Carlo al Lazzaretto in Milan, reports the Life Site News.
The service was held on the occasion of the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, while the liturgy's promotional materials displayed rainbow symbolism in the church's décor. During his homily, Abp. Mario Delpini told the assembled activists that "the Lord has bound Himself to you and chosen you... because He loves you."
The event turned into a major scandal after photographs from the Mass appeared on social media. One of the attendees came wearing a blasphemous T-shirt depicting Christ in rainbow-colored robes with the inscription "Ah Men" — an erotic pun on the liturgical word "Amen." The activist later publicly boasted that he had repeated this phrase at the very moment he received communion from the Archbishop's hands.
Блок - по темі (Cypriot theologian: The Church should review its attitude toward LGBT)
The organization "Il Gruppo del Guado," founded back in 1980, openly declares its goal to be the "spiritual accompaniment" of homosexuals within the Catholic Church. Such actions by the hierarch represent another step in the liberalization of the Italian episcopate.
As early as October 2025, the Italian Bishops' Conference published a document titled "Lievito di Pace e di Speranza," in which it called on the Church to support pride marches and introduce gender identity education programs for minors.
As the UOJ reported, an LGBT organization mocked Christ on social media.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93779-in-milan-a-roman-catholic-archbishop-celebrated-mass-for-the-lgbt-community</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[President of Serbia discusses spiritual ties between nations with Patriarch Shio]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93778-president-of-serbia-discussed-spiritual-bonds-between-peoples-with-patriarch-shio</link><description><![CDATA[In Tbilisi, Aleksandar Vučić and Catholicos-Patriarch Shio III of All Georgia confirmed the importance of partnership and strengthening of faith in the relations between the two countries.]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2026 09:56:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[On June 15, 2026, the President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić visited the Georgian Patriarchate as part of an official visit. The head of state met with the Primate of the Georgian Orthodox Church, Catholicos-Patriarch Shio III, reports the UOJ in Georgia.
Together with the Serbian leader, the Patriarchate was visited by the President of Georgia, the First Lady of Serbia Tamara Vučić, and the spouse of the Georgian President Tamar Bagrationi. The parties discussed the centuries-old historical, cultural and spiritual heritage that unites the Orthodox peoples.
Aleksandar Vučić and His Holiness emphasized the need for further development of friendly ties and deepening of partnership between Georgia and Serbia. In their view, spiritual unity remains a solid foundation for interstate cooperation and the strengthening of interpersonal relations.
Блок - по темі (Vučić on pilgrimage to Belt of Theotokos in Belgrade: I am proud of such Serbia)
As the UOJ reported, Patriarch Shio became the godfather of more than 600 children.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93778-president-of-serbia-discussed-spiritual-bonds-between-peoples-with-patriarch-shio</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Romanian Church appeals to believers over anti-migrant riots]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93777-romanian-church-appealed-to-the-faithful-over-anti-migrant-riots</link><description><![CDATA[The Archdiocese of Great Britain and Northern Ireland expressed solidarity with compatriots affected by outbreaks of violence.]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2026 09:43:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[The Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Great Britain and Northern Ireland issued an official statement in support of the Romanian community facing social tension and unrest in the region, reports Basilica.ro.
The hierarchs emphasized that the Church remains in constant contact with representatives of the Consulate General of Romania in Edinburgh, the Embassy of Romania in London, local authorities, and Romanian communities in the affected areas, closely monitoring developments and exploring ways of supporting those facing difficulties
The clergy called on the faithful to remain calm, exercise discernment and responsibility, follow the recommendations of local authorities and avoid any situations that could endanger their safety. The Archdiocese affirmed its readiness to provide assistance through its pastoral and charitable structures to those affected, should the situation require it, in cooperation with the relevant authorities and Romanian institutions involved.
In particular, the Romanian parish in Belfast continued to be present among the Romanian community, providing pastoral care, counselling, and assistance to those in need.
Блок - по темі (Calls grow in Germany for mass deportations of Syrians in 2026)
“As a Church, we believe that neither fear, resentment, nor violence can bring healing to a society. Only dialogue, mutual respect, justice, and solidarity can rebuild trust between people and restore peace to affected communities,” the Archdiocese said, calling for an immediate end to the clashes.
The Church also added that it is offering prayers for peace and wisdom to be granted to all parties to the conflict and for the protection of those who are in danger.
As the UOJ reported, the Romanian Church spoke out against the Pride march in Bucharest.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93777-romanian-church-appealed-to-the-faithful-over-anti-migrant-riots</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[OCA Primate expresses support for Met. Onuphry after strike on Kyiv Lavra]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93776-the-primate-of-the-oca-supported-his-beatitude-onuphry-after-the-strike-on-the-lavra</link><description><![CDATA[Metropolitan Tikhon condemned the military attacks on the ancient monastery and assured the UOC flock of unity and constant prayer.]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2026 23:31:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[The Primate of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), Metropolitan Tikhon, sent a letter of support to His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry in connection with the damage to the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. This was reported by UOJ-USA.
The archpastor expressed deep sorrow and indignation over the danger to which the ancient monastery was subjected during the recent attack. The head of the OCA conveyed words of solidarity and assurances of prayers to the Primate of the UOC, monastics, and all the faithful of the Ukrainian people.
In his message, Metropolitan Tikhon called the Lavra one of the greatest spiritual treasures of the Orthodox world, which has been hallowed by the exploits and witness of countless saints.
"Any act of violence directed against such a holy place is a cause of grief and indignation for Orthodox Christians everywhere," emphasized the Primate of the Church in America.
He noted that the clergy and laity of the OCA remain united in prayer with His Beatitude Onuphry, who is leading the UOC through a period of profound trials. The head of the OCA condemned the military strikes, which bring immeasurable suffering to civilians and cause damage to holy sites.
Блок - по темі (Lavra abbot comments on shelling of Dormition Cathedral)
The archpastor expressed hope for the speediest restoration of peace and called upon the holy saints whose relics rest in the caves of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra to intercede for suffering Ukraine. Metropolitan Tikhon concluded his address with a prayer for the well-being of God's holy Churches and the unity of all.
As the UOJ previously reported, the Khmelnytskyi hierarch expressed support for the UOC Primate and Lavra's brotherhood.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93776-the-primate-of-the-oca-supported-his-beatitude-onuphry-after-the-strike-on-the-lavra</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Catholic bishop receives “blessing” from rabbi in synagogue in USA]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93775-a-catholic-bishop-in-the-usa-received-a-blessing-from-a-rabbi-in-a-synagogue</link><description><![CDATA[Roman Catholic Church hierarch Mark Brennan, known for supporting blessings for gay couples, took part in a Jewish rite before retiring.]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2026 22:49:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[On June 5, 2026, the head of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, Bishop Mark Brennan, took part in a Jewish “Shabbat Shalom” service, during which he received a “special blessing” from a rabbi. The incident took place in a synagogue during the “First Friday Shabbat” service, reports Life Site News.
Rabbi Joshua Lief invited the Catholic bishop to the altar to give him a “farewell exhortation” over the hierarch’s upcoming retirement on July 1. The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston boasted about the event on social media, calling it an expression of “beautiful friendship grounded in respect and love for God’s creation.”
Brennan has taken part in similar interfaith events before. Earlier, he held joint ecumenical “services” with representatives of various Protestant denominations and also prayed for Israel in the company of a Presbyterian woman. Rabbi Lief called the retiring bishop “an amazing friend and colleague” and expressed hope for further “bridge-building between faiths” with his successor.
Блок - по темі (OCU theologian: Christians' Messiah and Jews' Mashiach are the same person)
In Catholic circles, Bishop Brennan has gained a controversial reputation because of his liberal views. He openly supported the Vatican’s controversial declaration “Fiducia Supplicans,” which permits “blessings” for same-sex couples. In Brennan’s view, this document “expands the realm of awareness” of who may receive blessings.
In addition, the hierarch consistently fought against traditions in his diocese: he made the faithful stand after the “Agnus Dei” prayer and urged them to receive Communion standing instead of the traditional kneeling.
As the UOJ reported, an Athonite monk explained how ecumenism leads to the secularization of the Church.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93775-a-catholic-bishop-in-the-usa-received-a-blessing-from-a-rabbi-in-a-synagogue</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[MFA accuses UNESCO of weakness over statement on Lavra]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93774-mfa-accused-unesco-of-weakness-over-statement-on-the-lavra</link><description><![CDATA[Ukraine's Foreign Ministry called it "absurd" that the international organization refused to directly name the perpetrator of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra shelling.]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2026 22:26:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[On June 15, 2026, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Heorhiy Tykhyi, criticized UNESCO for failing to mention in its official statement that it was the Russian Federation that struck the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.
The ministry's representative considered the international body's position to be a display of professional incompetence. "Absurd. An organization tasked with protecting cultural heritage cannot even name who it is protecting it from," Tykhyi stressed.
The diplomat expressed bewilderment over the fact that UNESCO's official representatives avoid direct wording in their assessment of what happened. "Why is it so hard to simply say: 'Russian strike'?" the MFA spokesperson asked. In his opinion, the organization's current leadership "demonstrates a lack of leadership, weakness, and an inability to fulfill its mandate."
Блок - по темі (Ukraine's Foreign Ministry: Putin must be cursed for centuries)
In its official communiqué, UNESCO did indeed condemn the strike on the Lavra's territory, noting that it occurred "in the context of the escalation of the war in Ukraine following the Russian Federation's invasion." However, in the condemnation itself, the organization referred to the incident as a "recorded strike" that damaged a World Heritage site.
As a result of the shelling, which occurred on the morning of June 15, a fire broke out on the monastery grounds. According to UNESCO experts, the exterior and interior of the Dormition Cathedral sustained significant damage.
As the UOJ reported, due to the RF's attack on the Lavra, the tower of Venerable John the Hut-Dweller was damaged.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93774-mfa-accused-unesco-of-weakness-over-statement-on-the-lavra</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Zelensky discusses strike on Lavra with Patriarch Bartholomew]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93773-zelensky-discussed-the-strike-on-the-lavra-with-patriarch-bartholomew</link><description><![CDATA[Volodymyr Zelensky and the Ecumenical Patriarch discussed possible formats for personal meetings.]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2026 21:42:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[On June 15, 2026, Volodymyr Zelensky held a phone conversation with Constantinople Patriarch Bartholomew on his way to the G7 summit. As reported by the  OP press service, the head of state thanked the head of the Phanar for his support and his “clear moral position” regarding the strikes on the Kyiv Pechersk Monastery.
The parties acknowledged that the drone attack on a shrine belonging not only to Ukraine but to world Orthodoxy as a whole constitutes an act of barbarism, and discussed possible formats for arranging in-person meetings in the future. The President also officially invited the Ecumenical Patriarch to visit Ukraine and thanked him for his prayers for the country and its people.
Блок - по темі (Tower of St. John the Hut-Dweller damaged in Russian attack on Lavra)
It should be recalled that earlier the same day it became known that the Dormition Cathedral of the Lavra had sustained serious damage, where a fire broke out as a result of the nighttime shelling. The UOC emphasized that such strikes on places of prayer had crossed all moral boundaries.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93773-zelensky-discussed-the-strike-on-the-lavra-with-patriarch-bartholomew</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Europe sees a record number of arson attacks on Christian churches]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93772-europe-records-a-record-number-of-arson-attacks-on-christian-churches</link><description><![CDATA[Human rights advocates from the organization OIDAC Europe have published a report on hate crimes against Christians.]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2026 21:31:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[The number of attacks on churches and believers in Europe has increased, with 13 cases of arson recorded in a single month. This data was published by the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe (OIDAC Europe), which recorded 37 hate crimes in May.
The highest number of incidents occurred in Germany, Italy, and France. In Genoa, vandals desecrated the Basilica of San Siro with calls to "burn churches," while in Britain and Ireland police launched investigations into a series of fires at church buildings.
Radical aggression escalated into direct violence against people. In Hanau, Germany, unknown individuals fired a pneumatic weapon at the Church of the Holy Spirit during a Mass, when 200 parishioners were inside. In Poland, a Ukrainian attacked a nun and tore a cross from her neck, while in Austria, left-wing extremists inflicted serious injuries on two Catholic students.
In Leipzig, a Christian café was forced to close due to constant harassment and 26 attacks by left-wing radicals, unable to continue operating under systematic pressure.
Блок - по темі (In Europe, 38 crimes against Christians recorded in April)
Experts expose a systemic flaw among European authorities, who refuse to acknowledge the scale of persecution of Christians. Despite the fact that in Greece over the past 10 years, 96% of all attacks on religious sites targeted Orthodox churches specifically (more than 4,400 cases), European politicians continue to ignore this problem in their resolutions.
OIDAC specialists emphasize that such a policy leads to the displacement of Christian values from Europe's public space.
As the UOJ reported, militants killed 37 Orthodox Christians in Ethiopia.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93772-europe-records-a-record-number-of-arson-attacks-on-christian-churches</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Pope calls on Europeans to respect the dignity of migrants]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93771-pope-calls-on-europeans-to-respect-the-dignity-of-migrants</link><description><![CDATA[The pontiff called helping refugees the main duty of the Church.]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2026 21:00:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[On June 11, 2026, Pope Leo XIV, during a visit to Spain, called on European peoples to respect the "human dignity" of migrants. This is reported by Life Site News.
In his speech before humanitarian workers at the port of Arguineguín, he stated that welcoming refugees cannot be a secondary issue for Christians. At the same time, the pontiff made no mention of the bloody incident in Northern Ireland, where just two days earlier a migrant from Sudan had attempted to behead a person.
"Dear migrants: before I say anything else to you, I want to bow before your dignity. You are not numbers or files! You are people with families and homes that you have left behind, with dreams that no one has the right to despise," Leo XIV addressed the migrants. He also called on European nations to undertake an "examination of conscience" and to stop viewing the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic as "gravestones without graves."
Блок - по темі (Nativity scene featuring "refugee" Jesus unveiled in London)
The pope's words came against the backdrop of a sharp surge in violence by illegal migrants. In Belfast, 40-year-old Steven Ogilvie lost an eye and suffered severe head and facial injuries after being attacked by Hadi Alodid, a native of Muslim Sudan. The latter arrived in the United Kingdom via France and Ireland, having swiftly been granted asylum.
Previously, the pontiff had already sparked a wave of outrage when he effectively equated "mistreatment of migrants" with the sin of abortion.
Some influential Catholic hierarchs also oppose the "open borders" policy.
As SПЖ reported, a migrant in Spain beat a woman because of her Christian faith.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93771-pope-calls-on-europeans-to-respect-the-dignity-of-migrants</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lavra abbot comments on shelling of Dormition Cathedral]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93770-the-lavras-abbot-commented-on-the-shelling-of-the-dormition-cathedral</link><description><![CDATA[Metropolitan Pavel called the shelling of the cathedral the work of the devil and linked the tragedy to the “abomination of desolation” that has reigned in the churches after the expulsion of the UOC.]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2026 20:18:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[On June 15, 2026, Metropolitan Pavel (Lebed), abbot of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, called the destruction of the Dormition Cathedral “a great sorrow” for the fullness of the Universal Orthodox Church. The UOC hierarch issued an address in which he stressed that behind the physical destruction of walls lies a spiritual catastrophe.
“It is a sorrow when churches are destroyed in any Local Church. People who think they are doing this are, in fact, not the ones doing it – it is being done by the devil, who abandoned Christ, His Church, and the faithful for a time,” the hierarch said.
The abbot recalled that the cathedral, restored in 2000, is now experiencing a tragic period not only because of shelling, but also because of the attitude of its new owners.
“They dance in the churches, shoot all kinds of improper videos, fry and steam things – instead of prayer, instead of the unifying Divine power abiding there,” the hierarch said, denouncing what he described as the systematic desecration of the monastery.
Блок - по темі (Romanian Church calls strike on Lavra a loss for all Christianity)
He added that today outsiders and women enter the altar, while clergy are openly mocked. “Today there is emptiness, abomination, and desolation,” the hierarch stressed.
According to Metropolitan Pavel, the current persecution of the UOC is caused by its faithfulness to the canons.
“Today we are the persecuted Church in Ukraine, the hated Church. Why? Because we preserve the unity of the Universal Orthodox Church,” he explained.
The abbot called on the monastery brethren not to lose heart or yield to pressure.
“Pray, do not go anywhere, do not leave. And forgive those people who have lost the image of God,” he said.
As the UOJ reported, the UOC commented on the strike on the Dormition Cathedral.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93770-the-lavras-abbot-commented-on-the-shelling-of-the-dormition-cathedral</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Greek hierarch: Crisis within RCC is more serious than often portrayed]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93769-greek-hierarch-the-crisis-within-the-rcc-is-more-serious-than-is-often-portrayed</link><description><![CDATA[Metropolitan Seraphim described the results of the Catholic forum in Würzburg as evidence of Rome’s deep ecclesiological decline.]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2026 20:04:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[Hierarch of the Church of Greece Metropolitan Seraphim of Piraeus criticized the results of the German Catholic Days forum in Würzburg. The bishop stressed that the event became “a loud testimony” that the crisis in the Roman Catholic Church is fundamental and much deeper than society usually assumes. This was reported by Orthodoxia News Agency.
“Although this was an ecclesiastical event of the papal church in Germany, the great absentee from it was Christ Himself,” the hierarch stated.
According to the metropolitan, the forum’s official program almost entirely ignored traditional Christian concepts such as sin, repentance, and eternal life.
An even more glaring fact, the hierarch said, was that the name of Jesus Christ appeared in the congress schedule only once, and then only as part of an international musical event.
Modern ideological trends took the place of Christian doctrine at the congress. Metropolitan Seraphim noted that the dominant topics of discussion were climate policy, issues of gender identity, and “queer theory.”
The Greek hierarch was particularly outraged by the children’s program: children were presented with homosexuality as a form of “normal diversity” and were taught ideas about so-called “rainbow families,” which directly contradict traditional Christian marriage.
Блок - по темі (Греческий иерарх заявил, что РКЦ – это не Церковь Христова)
“Secularized papism, having departed from the authenticity of Christian teaching, instead of following Christ, increasingly follows the spirit of the fallen world,” the hierarch stressed.
He also drew a parallel with Dostoevsky’s “Grand Inquisitor,” noting that the pursuit of worldly power and adaptation to the demands of the age are long-standing vices of the Vatican.
According to the hierarch’s position, the current state of affairs shows that the problem facing Catholics today is not organizational, but above all spiritual and ecclesiological.
As the UOJ reported, the Metropolis of Piraeus called a satanist convention in the United States a spiritual deviation.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93769-greek-hierarch-the-crisis-within-the-rcc-is-more-serious-than-is-often-portrayed</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Dumenko urges unity with those who "follow orders of the bloody patriarch”]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93767-dumenko-urges-unity-with-those-who-follow-orders-of-the-bloody-patriarch</link><description><![CDATA[The head of the OCU claims that UOC believers are merely disguising themselves as Ukrainians and called on them to unite with the OCU.]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2026 18:52:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[Commenting on the Russian strike on the Dormition Cathedral, OCU leader Serhii Dumenko called on members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to unite with his structure.
Block - on topic (After the shelling of the Lavra, Lotysh called on its brotherhood to "come to their senses" and "return" to the OCU)
“I call on everyone who remains in delusion. What is happening is a disguise under the guise of a Ukrainian church, but in reality these people are directly subordinate to the Moscow Patriarchate and essentially carry out the instructions of the bloody Patriarch Kirill, who blesses this war, supports it, and openly calls it sacred. It is time to come to your senses, to understand and realize: when we are being destroyed, we must prepare and unite. Everyone must rally together and understand that we have one enemy,” Dumenko said.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that, according to Dumenko, he sees no point in uniting with the UOC because it consists only of collaborators.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93767-dumenko-urges-unity-with-those-who-follow-orders-of-the-bloody-patriarch</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[OCU bishop calls shelling of Dormition Cathedral retribution for sacrilege]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93768-the-ocu-called-the-shelling-of-the-dormition-cathedral-payback-for-sacrilege-in-the-lavra</link><description><![CDATA[An OCU “bishop” saw “God’s allowance” in the fire that damaged the main shrine of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2026 18:27:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[OCU “Archbishop” Vasyl Shlapak of Zhytomyr and Polissia wrote on his Facebook page that the destruction of the Dormition Cathedral was connected to “encroachment upon God” by those who allowed entertainment events to take place in the monastery.
According to his reasoning, the tragedy was a consequence of dances, singing performances, and culinary shows being held in churches during wartime, particularly during the Christmas season.
As an example of what he described as “sacrilege,” Shlapak cited a performance by singer Olha Polyakova, who appeared wearing a crown of thorns in front of a cross. The author of the post argued that those responsible for such actions should, at the very least, be subjected to church penance.
Блок - по темі (Online users outraged by music video featuring singer Polyakova as Christ)
As previously reported by the UOJ, a song and dance ensemble performed in the Lavra’s Refectory Church.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93768-the-ocu-called-the-shelling-of-the-dormition-cathedral-payback-for-sacrilege-in-the-lavra</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Tower of St. John the Hut-Dweller damaged in Russian attack on Lavra]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93766-as-a-result-of-the-russian-attack-on-the-lavra-the-tower-of-st-john-kouchnyk-was-damaged</link><description><![CDATA[The historic Tower of St. John the Hut-Dweller on the grounds of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra was damaged in the shelling of Kyiv.]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2026 17:39:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[Russia’s massive attack on Kyiv on the night of June 15, 2026, caused fires at structures on the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra territory. According to Maksym Ostapenko, director general of the reserve, the enemy carried out two targeted strikes on the monastery grounds. The second Geran-2 kamikaze drone hit the 300-year-old stone tower on Mazepa Street and also damaged the neighboring Mystetskyi Arsenal building.
The Tower of St. John the Hut-Dweller is a unique fortification structure that forms part of the architectural ensemble of the shrine and is protected by UNESCO. The explosion destroyed part of the ancient stonework, and a fire broke out at the impact site.
Блок - по темі (Ukraine and Russia give different explanations for strike on Lavra)
The tower was built in 1698 at the expense of Hetman Ivan Mazepa as a watchtower together with the monastery’s stone walls. It was named in honor of St. John the Hut-Dweller, the hetman’s heavenly patron. In 2024, specialists completed a full restoration of the roof of this architectural monument.
As the UOJ reported, St. Nicholas Church in Dnipro was damaged in an overnight Russian shelling.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93766-as-a-result-of-the-russian-attack-on-the-lavra-the-tower-of-st-john-kouchnyk-was-damaged</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Zelensky and the strike on the Lavra: grief for export?]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/mysli-vsluh/93765-zelensky-and-the-strike-on-the-lavra-grief-for-export</link><description><![CDATA[If Russia’s strike on the Dormition Cathedral is, in Zelensky’s words, “barbarism,” then what should we call the Ukrainian authorities’ destruction of UOC churches? Is that not barbarism? Or is that somehow “different”?]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2026 17:10:00 +0300</pubDate><category>Thoughts Aloud</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[After a Russian drone struck the Dormition Cathedral, Zelensky promptly arrived at the Lavra and promised to restore the damaged church. He called what happened “barbarism” and “an open attack on the Christian community.”
And here, one cannot help but feel a certain bewilderment.
The Dormition Cathedral, like any other church, was built for prayer. From the point of view of the “Christian community,” it is no different from the most modest little church in some remote village. In both, the same Liturgy is served and the same Bloodless Sacrifice is offered.
Today, Zelensky and Ukraine’s leadership are making loud statements for an international audience and ostentatiously expressing grief over the “destruction of a shrine.” Yet just a couple of years ago, Zelensky just as ostentatiously remained silent when, under police protection, municipal workers demolished another shrine – the Tithes Monastery. Yes, that church did not have the same historical or architectural value as the Dormition Cathedral. But for any Christian, it was no less precious. And the Tithes Monastery was not an exception, but part of a system. Under Zelensky’s presidency, the UOC’s Transfiguration Church in Ivano-Frankivsk was demolished, as was St. Volodymyr’s Church in Lviv. Now the rector of the Transfiguration Church in Kyiv is sounding the alarm: his shrine, too, is facing the threat of destruction.
If Russia’s strike on the Dormition Cathedral is, in Zelensky’s words, “barbarism,” then what should we call the destruction of UOC churches by the Ukrainian authorities? Is that not barbarism? Or is that somehow “different”?
In recent years, the churches of the Lavra have hosted rock concerts, cooking show shoots, performances by folk dance ensembles, government conferences, and other events that had nothing spiritual about them. For some reason, no one then said that the Lavra is a shrine, not a cultural center or a conference hall. Today, Zelensky suddenly remembered it. Why? It seems everyone knows the answer: because the Lavra is a Christian center known throughout the world. Because this topic can generate powerful hype.
Of course, attacks that destroy holy places are a crime. But that is what the enemy does. When churches were demolished by one’s own side, did that make it any easier for their parishioners?
Grief for export.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/mysli-vsluh/93765-zelensky-and-the-strike-on-the-lavra-grief-for-export</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[OCU clerics visit Kharkiv mosque for Eid al-Adha]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93763-bishop-and-priests-of-the-ocu-visited-a-mosque-in-kharkiv-on-the-occasion-of-eid-al-adha</link><description><![CDATA[Participants in the interreligious meeting discussed chaplaincy ministry and cooperation under wartime conditions.]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2026 16:45:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[On June 12, 2026, on the occasion of the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha, a meeting of military chaplains from various religious organizations was held at the Al-Manar center in Kharkiv. This was reported by the Congress of Muslims of Ukraine.
The event was attended by OCU “clergy,” including “Bishop” Mitrofan of Kharkiv and Slobozhanshchyna. The guests congratulated Muslims of the region on the holiday, wishing the community peace, goodness, and God’s blessing.
During the visit, the chaplains were given an introductory tour, where they were told about the activities of the Muslim community in Kharkiv region, as well as the center’s educational, social, and charitable projects.
Блок - по темі (Youth study “shared values” of Catholicism and Islam at interreligious forum)
Particular attention was given to spiritual support for servicemen. Khadzhymurad Putylin, head of the Department of Military Chaplaincy of Muslims of Ukraine, briefed those present on the specifics of Muslim chaplains’ ministry at the front and their contribution to strengthening the morale of defenders. Cooperation among chaplains of different denominations was also discussed as a separate topic.
Participants in the meeting noted that interreligious dialogue today plays a significant role in consolidating Ukrainian society. Representatives of various organizations emphasized shared values, including love for one’s neighbor, assistance to those in need, and spiritual care for soldiers.
As the UOJ reported, OCU and UGCC clerics prayed with Muslims in a mosque.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93763-bishop-and-priests-of-the-ocu-visited-a-mosque-in-kharkiv-on-the-occasion-of-eid-al-adha</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Ukraine and Russia give different explanations for strike on Lavra]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93761-the-authorities-of-ukraine-and-russia-explained-the-strike-on-the-lavra-differently</link><description><![CDATA[Ukrainian authorities said the Dormition Cathedral was damaged by a drone, while Russia’s Defense Ministry attributed the strike on the Lavra to the fall of a faulty Ukrainian Patriot air defense missile.]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2026 16:43:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[The Ukrainian side and Russia’s Defense Ministry offered different explanations for what caused damage to the Dormition Cathedral of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra during Russia’s overnight strike.
Block - on topic (Authorities showed the condition of the Assumption Cathedral after the shelling)
Kyiv insists that the cathedral was damaged by a drone. President Volodymyr Zelensky stated this during a meeting with journalists at the Lavra.


“As you can see, not all drones were shot down. The roof of the cathedral was partially destroyed by a drone,” he said.
Maksym Ostapenko, head of the Lavra Reserve, also spoke of a drone strike. According to him, the impact hit the central part of the cathedral, after which a large-scale fire broke out, covering about 800 square meters.
The SBU stated that the strike was carried out by a Geran-2 unmanned aerial vehicle and showed photographs of a UAV that it says was found at the impact site.

Russia’s Defense Ministry offered a different explanation for the damage to the Dormition Cathedral. According to the Russian ministry, the strike on the cathedral was allegedly caused by a faulty missile from a Ukrainian Patriot air defense system. Moscow described the overnight strike itself as a massive attack on defense industry facilities. At the same time, experts have expressed doubts that the nature of the church’s damage matches a missile strike.
The Dormition Cathedral of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that the UOC commented on the strike on the Dormition Cathedral.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/93761-the-authorities-of-ukraine-and-russia-explained-the-strike-on-the-lavra-differently</guid></item></channel></rss>