Armed people kidnap a Ukrainian Orthodox Church priest in Kyiv region
On March 16, 2022, in the village of Tomashivka, Fastiv district, Kyiv region, unknown armed men kidnapped the cleric of the Kyiv diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Archpriest Gennady Batenko, the website of the UOC diocese reports.
On Wednesday evening, unknown people broke into the priest's house, forcibly took him out into the yard and took him away in an unknown direction. An appeal to law enforcement officers has not yet yielded any result – the police said they do not have information about Fr. Gennady’s whereabouts.
Archpriest Gennady Batenko, a surgeon by profession, is the Deputy Chairman of the Synodal Department of the UOC for Health and Medical and Scientific Work, Dean of the Second Hospital District of Kyiv.
In Tomashivka there is a monastery in honor of the Deposition of the Robe of the Most Holy Theotokos in Vlaherna, which was formed in 2000 as a skete of the Kyiv Sviato-Vvedensky Monastery of the UOC. Every year, thousands of people from Kyiv head to the monastery in a religious procession with the miraculous Support to the Humble Icon of the Mother of God.
As reported by the UOJ, the abbot of the Dukonsky monastery told the details about the seizure of the shrine.
Read also
Petition Warns Canada’s Hate Speech Law Could Criminalize Scripture
Thousands of Canadians have signed a petition urging the Liberal government to drop proposed hate-speech changes that critics warn could criminalize quoting the Bible and other religious texts.
JD Vance: Criticizing Israel Is Not Antisemitism
Vice President JD Vance said opposing Israeli policies is not the same as antisemitism, sparking debate over where criticism of Israel ends and hatred of Jews begins.
First Orthodox Prayer Book Published in Indonesian Language
The first Orthodox prayer book in Indonesian has been published and presented in Bekasi, providing local faithful and new converts with a vital resource for prayer and liturgical life.
OCA Joins Legal Challenge to Illinois Abortion Referral Law
Amicus brief argues mandate violates religious freedom and compels pro-life providers to contradict their faith.
EXCLUSIVE: Leaked Ukrainian Memo Says Religious Freedom is ‘Achilles Heel’
In an emergency strategy meeting held in response to the Society of St. John's Day of Action, D.C.-based Ukrainian lobbyists acknowledged the weight of the religious freedom issue as it pertains to the Ukrainian government’s public perception.
Historic $2.9 Million Bequest Strengthens Greek Orthodox Foundation
The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago Foundation has received a record $2.9 million bequest from the late Andy Efthim, a devoted layman whose faith-filled generosity will support the Church’s mission for generations.