Ukrainian Orthodox Church

Patriarch Filaret dies in his 98th year, ending era in Ukraine’s church

Patriarch Filaret, who led the Ukrainian Orthodox Church — Kyiv Patriarchate, has died in his 98th year, Metropolitan Epifaniy said on March 20.

20 March, 01:08 PM

Ukraine sues to liquidate Moscow-tied Orthodox group

Ukraine's State Service for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience has asked a court to shut down the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate and transfer its non-religious assets to the state, a court ruling dated Sept. 3 reveals.

10 September 2025, 02:50 PM

Ukraine declares UOC affiliated with Russian Orthodox Church

Ukraine’s State Service for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience has recognized the Kyiv Metropolis of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) as affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC), according to an order dated Aug. 27.

28 August 2025, 06:49 PM

Ukrainian police raid Moscow-linked church office

Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) and National Police carried out a search on April 15 at the chancellery of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) in Kyiv, sources in law enforcement told NV.

15 April 2025, 04:23 PM

Moscow-linked cleric caught spying for Russia

Ukrainian security forces have detained a priest with the Moscow-linked Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC-MP) who agreed to spy for Russia’s FSB in exchange for evacuating his family to the aggressor state, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said on April 10.

10 April 2025, 01:30 PM

Ukrainian priests busted for fake alcohol scheme

The Bureau of Economic Security (BEB) has uncovered and shut down an illegal alcohol production operation in Kyiv and Rivne oblasts, which was organized by members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate). Nearly 20,000 liters of counterfeit alcohol were seized, BEB reported on March 25.

25 March 2025, 03:27 PM

Christmas 2024: Service times and broadcasts for OCU, UGCC, and Roman Catholic Church in Ukraine

The Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) will celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25, instead of Jan. 7 for the second year after transitioning to the Revised Julian Calendar.

24 December 2024, 10:57 AM

Lviv Oblast becomes first in Ukraine to eliminate Russian Orthodox Church communities

Lviv Oblast has become the first in Ukraine to be free of any registered religious communities of the Russian Orthodox Church, Lviv Regional Military Administration head Maksym Kozytskyi announced on Nov. 29.

29 November 2024, 05:00 PM

Volodymyr Zelenskyy signs law banning Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a law banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) on Aug. 24, according to the Verkhovna Rada website.

24 August 2024, 11:52 AM

Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate abbot sells gold to Russia

A cleric from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate (UOC MP) in Russian-occupied Luhansk is suspected of supplying gold products to Russia, the SBU reported on Aug. 22.

22 August 2024, 05:29 PM

Orthodox Church of Ukraine leader invites UOC MP members to leave Moscow’s control

Metropolitan Epiphanius, head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), expressed his willingness to engage in dialogue with Metropolitan Onufriy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church under the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC MP) and encouraged followers of the UOC MP to join the OCU.

21 August 2024, 06:27 PM

Ukrainian parliament to consider UOC-MP ban, says Ruslan Stefanchuk

In the coming days, the Verkhovna Rada will consider a draft law to ban the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine, Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk said in an interview with We Ukraine TV channel on Aug. 17.

18 August 2024, 11:18 AM

Ukrainian Council supports ban on religious groups tied to Russian Orthodox Church

The All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations backed a legislative push to ban religious groups linked to the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine, according to a statement on their website on Aug. 17.

17 August 2024, 07:36 PM

Parliamentary committee condemns disinformation campaign targeting Moscow Patriarchate church ban bill

The Rada Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy reported a “frantic campaign” to discredit the bill banning religious organizations associated with Russia, according to an Aug. 1 statement on the parliament’s website.

2 August 2024, 12:19 PM

SBU arrests priest, accomplice for plotting attack on Ukrainian military

Ukraine’s SBU Security Service has detained two agents of the Russian GRU military intelligence, including a priest of the Moscow Patriarchate, who were preparing to attack Ukrainian Armed Forces' echelons.

1 August 2024, 01:25 PM

Ukrainian MPs block podium, demand vote on Moscow Patriarchate Church ban

Ukrainian Parliament members protested by displaying placards and blocking the podium, demanding a vote on the bill to ban religious organizations affiliated with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP), European Solidarity party MP Oleksiy Honcharenko reported on Telegram on July 23, sharing photos from the scene.

23 July 2024, 02:57 PM

Russia demolishes last Ukrainian church in occupied Crimea

Russia has started demolishing the Cross Exaltation Church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (OCU) in the Russian-occupied city of Yevpatoria, Crimea, the Ukrainian publication Voice of Crimea reported on July 22.

22 July 2024, 08:22 PM

Statehood Day in Ukraine: new date marks historic ties to St. Volodymyr

On July 15, Ukraine celebrates Statehood Day on a new date for the first time. NV explains the significance of this day and why it was established to honor St. Volodymyr and the Baptism of Kievan Rus - Ukraine.

15 July 2024, 11:26 AM

Ukraine exchanges Russia-linked Metropolitan in prisoner swap

Ukraine exchanged Metropolitan Ionafan (Anatolii Yeletskykh) of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP), convicted of undermining Ukraine's territorial integrity and supporting Russian aggression the BBC reported on June 25.

26 June 2024, 02:49 PM

Ukraine's ruling party to revisit Russian-linked religious groups ban

Ukraine's ruling political party, Servant of the People, will reevaluate the bill to ban religious organizations with ties to Russia at the end of June, a party insider informed NV on May 23.

23 May 2024, 12:49 PM

Ukrainian Orthodox Church

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