Abducted Ukrainian Deacon Dies During Military Training

The gravesite of Orest Cherny. Photo: Petro Husak/Facebook

LVIV, UKRAINE — The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and the local community are mourning the death of Orest Black (Cherny), a 46-year-old deacon who passed away on November 29, 2025, during military training with the 82nd Separate Air Assault Bukovyna Brigade in the Chernivtsi region. Authorities have not disclosed the precise circumstances surrounding his death.

Born on January 19, 1979, in Lviv to a devout family of clergy, Cherny dedicated his life to the Church. After completing school, he joined the Monastery of the Redemptorists and earned a theology degree from the Lviv Theological Academy. Over 20 years, he served three parishes in Lviv, known for his humility, kindness, and a remarkable gift for sacred singing.

Cherny celebrated his final Divine Service on November 6. According to Lviv resident Petro Husak, Cherny was abducted while returning home from a church service and transported to multiple military units before ending up in Chernivtsi. Husak says Cherny spent his final days in intensive care, with the official version citing bilateral pneumonia, kidney failure, and intestinal obstruction. Witnesses reported, however, that his body was covered with bruises.

The Parastas will be held at 19:00 on Friday, December 12, at the Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin. The funeral service will begin at 11:00 on Saturday, followed by burial at Goloskovo Cemetery, field No. 46. Cherny leaves behind a legacy of devotion, faith, and service that touched all who knew him.

Previously, the UOJ reported on a UOC priest who was rescued from forced conscription after a dramatic intervention. 

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