UOC Priest Detained by Military Officials En Route to Serve Liturgy in Ukraine
Archpriest Ioann Koval. Photo: Dcn. Dombrovskyi’s Facebook
SHUMSK — On the morning of June 22, 2025, Archpriest Ioann Koval of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church’s Ternopil Eparchy was detained by officers from the Territorial Recruitment Center (TRC) and local police in the town of Shumsk. The priest was reportedly on his way to serve the Divine Liturgy in the villages of Onyshkivtsi and Bolozhivka when he was intercepted around 7 a.m., according to a statement shared by a local deacon.
By mid-morning, Fr. Ioann became unreachable, and by 3 p.m., his phone was completely offline. His vehicle was later found parked near the local TRC office. Despite multiple inquiries, neither his relatives nor parishioners have received information regarding his status or location.
Parishioners are requesting continued prayers for their priest.
Previously, UOJ reported on a similar case in Kremenets, where TRC officers detained Archimandrite Paphnutiy, abbot of the Holy Spirit Skete in Pochaiv.
Read also
ROCOR Priest Reflects on Trip to Capitol Hill
Archpriest Victor Boldewskul participated in the Society of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco's Day of Action to raise awareness about the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Hundreds of Chinese Christians Arrested in Pre-Christmas Crackdown
Hundreds of Chinese Christians face spending Christmas in detention after authorities launched a sweeping pre-holiday crackdown on churches under Beijing’s campaign to control religious life.
Ukraine Adviser: UOC Not Banned, but Offered a 'Choice' of Jurisdictions
A Ukrainian presidential adviser said the UOC is not banned but pressured to choose between joining the OCU, submitting to Constantinople, or remaining unregistered, while dismissing international concerns as propaganda.
Indiana Reports 98% Drop in Abortions Under Stricter Law
Indiana’s latest health report shows a 98% drop in reported abortions under stricter laws, though dozens still occurred under legal exceptions and concerns persist about unreported pill abortions.
Armenian Apostolic Church Pushes Back on Political Encroachment
The Armenian Apostolic Church plans to appeal to international bodies to resist government interference and defend its clergy and sacred relics.
Attempted Takeover at Armenian Etchmiadzin Cathedral Thwarted by Faithful
Supporters of Armenian PM Pashinyan attempted to storm Etchmiadzin Cathedral amid calls for the Catholicos’s resignation but were blocked by parishioners and security.