Ukraine says it shot down Russian fighter jets and drones as the country officially marks Christmas
Kyiv, UkraineAP Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Monday hailed the shooting down of two Russian fighter jets on Christmas Eve and said “this Christmas sets the right mood for the entire year ahead.” In a Christmas message marking the first time the country has officially observed the holiday on 25th December rather than 7th January, […]
Ukraine’s parliament backs ban on Russia-linked church in initial vote
Kyiv, UkraineReuters The Ukrainian parliament gave initial approval on Thursday to a law that would ban the Ukrainian Orthodox Church after Kyiv accused it of collaborating with Russia following last year’s invasion. The UOC, which says it no longer aligned with the Russian Orthodox Church, denies the charges leveled at it by Kyiv and said […]
Ukraine’s parliament registers bill that could lead to ban on Moscow-linked church
Kyiv, Ukraine Reuters Ukraine’s parliament registered a draft law on Monday that would allow a ban on activities of the Moscow-linked Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The church has been accused by Kyiv of undermining Ukraine’s unity and collaborating with Russia following Moscow’s full-scale invasion in February, 2022, charges that it denies. The bill proposes amendments envisaging […]
Orthodox Church: Ukrainian churches purge vestiges of Russian influence
For centuries, Orthodox Ukrainians saw the traditional Julian calendar as one of the anchors of their church’s identity. Now many are switching to the Gregorian calendar. MEAGAN SALIASHVILI reports for Religion News Service…
Angry Russia refuses to speak at UN meeting on its attacks on Ukraine’s key port city of Odesa
United NationsAP In an escalation of Russia’s anger at Ukraine and its Western backers, Russia refused to speak at a UN Security Council meeting called to disuss Moscow’s recent devastating attacks on the key port of Odesa immediately following its refusal to extend the Black Sea grain deal. The confrontation began at the start of a council […]
Russia demands immediate release of Orthodox cleric detained in Ukraine
Reuters Russia on Saturday demanded the immediate release of a senior Orthodox cleric detained in Kyiv on suspicion of inflaming religious hatred and justifying Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Abbot of the Kyiv Pechers Lavra, Metropolitan Pavlo of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, accused of being linked to Moscow, attends a court hearing, amid Russia’s attack on […]
Tough bail conditions set for Ukraine Orthodox cleric
Reuters A Kyiv court on Friday ordered pre-trial detention for a senior cleric of a branch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church with historic links to Moscow on suspicion of sympathising with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine has been cracking down on the Moscow-linked Ukrainian Orthodox Church on grounds it is pro-Russian and collaborating with Moscow. […]
Battle over ownership of Ukrainian monastery heats up again
RNS Orthodox Christians who support their church’s historic ties to Moscow prevented the Ukrainian government from taking possession of several buildings at the Monastery of the Caves complex in Kyiv on Tuesday, with dozens of protesters surrounding the entrance and blocking officials from entering. The fate of the 1,000-year-old Pechersk Lavra complex has been in […]
Orthodox Church: After calendar change, many in Ukraine are looking forward to a new Christmas
The Orthodox Church of Ukraine has further cemented its split from the Russian counterpart it used to be a part of by adopting a new liturgical calendar. DAVID I KLEIN, of Religion News Service, reports…
Church schism: Communities torn as Ukraine turns its back on Moscow-linked church
MAX HUNDER, of Reuters, reports on the impact on communities as authorities crackdown on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church…