<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" version="2.0"><channel><title>News and articles UOJ</title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/</link><description>Articles and news about Orthodoxy, UOC and Christianity</description><language>en</language><lastBuildDate>Thu, 13 Aug 2026 21:15:39 +0300</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://spzh.eu/en/rss" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /><item><title><![CDATA[Church vandalism in Europe doubled in July, report says]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94958-in-july-the-number-of-vandalism-cases-in-european-churches-doubled-report</link><description><![CDATA[Germany and France recorded the highest numbers of attacks on Christians and Christian sites.]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 13 Aug 2026 16:39:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[Human rights advocates reported a twofold increase in acts of vandalism against Christian churches and other religious sites across Europe in July 2026. The Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe (OIDAC Europe) published the figures in its monthly report.
In total, researchers recorded 40 hate crimes targeting Christian communities during July. Germany had the highest number, with 15 incidents, followed by France with 10. Human rights monitors recorded five incidents in Italy, three in the United Kingdom, and two in Poland. Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Finland, and Turkey each recorded one incident.
Блок - по темі (Europe sees a record number of arson attacks on Christian churches)
The sharp rise in the desecration of religious sites was the main trend in July, with the number of such offenses reaching 18. Vandals targeted churches, monuments, crosses, parish cemeteries, and liturgical items. The attacks forced some congregations to temporarily close churches, reduce opening hours, or move Sunday services elsewhere. In the British town of Sheerness, for example, one congregation moved its Sunday services to a local café after church windows were repeatedly targeted with slingshots.
In addition to vandalism, human rights monitors recorded several cases of arson and desecration of sacred objects. In the German city of Hamm, police uncovered plans by a teenage ISIS supporter to set fire to a Christian church. In Kelheim, perpetrators burned a liturgical book inside a church. In the Irish town of Tramore, an unidentified assailant stabbed a woman as she prayed before Mass.
Attacks targeting individual believers are of particular concern to human rights advocates. In Regensburg, Germany, assailants beat an asylum seeker because he was wearing a cross around his neck. Authorities, however, declined to recognize religious hatred as the primary motive for the attack, describing it as a secondary factor. OIDAC Europe stressed the need to give greater consideration to religious motivation when recording such crimes.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that vandals had ransacked the Chapel of the Transfiguration of the Lord in Greece.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94958-in-july-the-number-of-vandalism-cases-in-european-churches-doubled-report</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Albanian Primate congratulates Patriarch Bartholomew on anniversary]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94957-albanian-primate-congratulates-patriarch-bartholomew-on-anniversary</link><description><![CDATA[The Primate of the Albanian Church highlighted the ministry of the Ecumenical Patriarch and his support for the revival of Orthodoxy in Albania.]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 13 Aug 2026 15:31:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[The Primate of the Albanian Orthodox Church Archbishop Joani delivered a congratulatory address to Patriarch Bartholomew on the Greek island of Imbros. Together with the Primate of the Church of Alexandria, he concelebrated with the Ecumenical Patriarch at the Divine Liturgy marking the 65th anniversary of his ordination to the diaconate, reports the UOJ in Albania.
Блок - по темі (Archbishop John of Albania: Distorting Church teaching alters spiritual life)
"The priesthood is indeed exercised on earth, but it belongs to the order of heavenly things," Archbishop Joani cited Saint John Chrysostom. "Therefore its weight cannot be measured by human standards." In his address, the Albanian Primate recalled that over the years of his ministry Patriarch Bartholomew organized the Council of Crete, resumed services in Cappadocia, and opened Greek schools on Imbros.
Archbishop Joani then gave special attention to the history of the revival of the Albanian Church following the period of state atheism. During that critical time, the Patriarchate of Constantinople sent the late Archbishop Anastasios to Albania as Patriarchal Exarch.
"The Church of Albania had been persecuted, desolate and seemed dead," Archbishop Joani testified. "Its churches and monasteries had been closed, plundered, alienated or destroyed. Worship had been prohibited by law." It was precisely the labors of Archbishop Anastasios that laid the foundation for the restoration of an autocephalous Church in the country.
Archbishop Joani stated that the faithful of Albania are ready to promote peace and the unity of Orthodoxy. "The place we wish to have is that of Aaron and Horus," the Albanian Primate emphasized. "When Moses' hands became heavy, held them up." According to the Archbishop, this is the position of those who support and work for the reconciliation of the Church.
As the UOJ previously reported, the Primates of Constantinople and Albania made a pilgrimage together.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94957-albanian-primate-congratulates-patriarch-bartholomew-on-anniversary</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Poland to fund church restoration in Lviv region]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94956-poland-to-fund-restoration-of-church-in-lviv-region</link><description><![CDATA[PLN 242,900 will be allocated to preserve a 17th-century early Baroque monument in the Lviv region.]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 13 Aug 2026 14:45:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[Poland will fund the restoration of a church in Lviv region that is in a dilapidated condition. The country's Ministry of Culture will allocate funds for the preservation of a 17th-century Baroque monument in the village of Variazh, reports Dyvys.info.
Specialists from Ukraine and Poland have already inspected the historical site to prepare a work plan. The restoration work will be carried out with the direct participation of representatives of the Polonika Institute. The Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage will allocate PLN 242,900 for this purpose under a dedicated state program.
Блок - по темі (Petition to transfer Odesa school building to Catholics gains 25,000 signatures)
The St. Mark Church is an important architectural monument of national significance and an outstanding example of early Baroque architecture. Patron Marek Matczyński founded a monastery and a college of the Piarist Order in Variazh in 1688. Architect Wojciech Lenartowicz designed the stone church, construction of which began in 1693. The builders completed the main works in 1695, and the church was fully consecrated in 1726. Between 1738 and 1748, the walls of the church were decorated with frescoes.
During the Soviet period, beginning in 1951, the building was used as a warehouse. An unsuccessful roof renovation in 1983 led to the catastrophic deterioration of the architectural monument. Today, only isolated fragments of 18th-century wall paintings remain of the church’s once-rich interior decoration.
As the UOJ reported, a Polish company will allocate €1 million for the restoration of the St. Nicholas Church.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94956-poland-to-fund-restoration-of-church-in-lviv-region</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Pat. Bartholomew celebrates jubilee with Primates of two Churches on Imbros]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94955-patriarch-bartholomew-celebrated-his-anniversary-on-imvros-with-the-primates-of-two-churches</link><description><![CDATA[The Primates of the Alexandrian and Albanian Churches concelebrated with the Ecumenical Patriarch on the anniversary of his diaconal ordination.]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 13 Aug 2026 13:49:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[On the Greek island of Imbros, Patriarch Bartholomew celebrated a festive Liturgy on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of his diaconal ordination, co-served by the Primates of the Alexandrian and Albanian Churches, reports Vima Orthodoxias.
Block - on topic (Patriarch Bartholomew announces his visit to Bulgaria in October)
The hierarchs concelebrated at the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, where, on August 13, 1961, the young Dimitrios Archontonis received his first holy order. The co-liturgy is also attended by Metropolitans Emmanuel of Geros Chalcedon, George of Guinea, and Melita of Philadelphia and Chrysostomos of Myra.
Dimitrios Archontonis was ordained a deacon by the then Metropolitan Meliton Hatzis of Imbros and Tenedos Meliton, who was his spiritual father and one of the most important ecclesiastical figures of the 20th century. At that time, the future Patriarch received the name Bartholomew in honor of the ecclesiastical writer Bartholomew of Koutloumousiou.
Patriarch Bartholomew was ordained to the priesthood in 1969. In 1973, he was elected Metropolitan of Philadelphia. In 1990, following the death of his spiritual father, he headed the See of Chalcedon. He ascended to the Patriarchal Throne in October 1991. The enthronement took place in the Patriarchal Church of Saint George in the Phanar.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Primates of Albanian and Alexandrian Churches arrived for Pat. Bartholomew's jubilee.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94955-patriarch-bartholomew-celebrated-his-anniversary-on-imvros-with-the-primates-of-two-churches</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Who jokes about "eaten" Zelensky]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/mysli-vsluh/94954-who-is-joking-about-the-eaten-zelensky</link><description><![CDATA[Archpriest Volodymyr Mandziuk had his face doused with green antiseptic, and the words "Death to the occupiers" were written on his car.]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 13 Aug 2026 12:23:00 +0300</pubDate><category>Thoughts Aloud</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[In recent days, photos of a UOC priest covered in green antiseptic have been circulating on social media, accompanied by the following mocking caption: “In the city of Stryi, MP priests ate Zelensky in front of their parishioners and left traces of this atrocity. I’ve lived for 53 years, and I’ve never seen anything like this.”
First, let us explain what is depicted in the photos. In May 2022, radicals tracked down a UOC community in Stryi and broke into its "home" worship service. Archpriest Volodymyr Mandziuk had his face doused with green antiseptic, and the words "Death to the occupiers" were written on his car.
We do not know the fate of this parish. But it was almost certainly closed down, as were all the others in Lviv region. Today, UOC believers gather there for worship services under the strictest secrecy. And these are not mere precautions. If discovered, large-scale harassment, persecution, and intimidation campaigns begin immediately.
This bears a strong resemblance to the beginning of the Holocaust in Germany: the same defamation in the media, bans imposed by the authorities, and widespread hatred across society. There is no doubt: if it were permitted, UOC believers in Galicia would be treated the same way Jews were treated in Germany in the 1930s–1940s.
What is particularly striking here is that the author of the mocking text about the "eaten Zelensky," Oleksii Bomko, is the rabbi of the Jewish community in Chernivtsi.
Historical memory is short.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/mysli-vsluh/94954-who-is-joking-about-the-eaten-zelensky</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[In Montenegro, Albanian party demands demolition of Orthodox church]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94952-in-montenegro-an-albanian-party-demands-the-demolition-of-an-orthodox-church</link><description><![CDATA[Montenegro’s Albanian party, representing the Muslim minority, is calling for the removal of a Serbian Orthodox temple from the summit of Mount Rumija.]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 13 Aug 2026 12:11:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[On August 9, 2026, the Albanian party "Democratic Union in Montenegro" demanded that the authorities demolish the temple of the Serbian Orthodox Church on the summit of Mount Rumija, reports Vijesti.
Party leaders Mehmet Bardi and Saubih Mehmeti submitted a petition with nearly a thousand signatures to the authorities. They demand the removal of the church and a ban on placing religious objects on the summit of Rumija.
Блок - по темі (Serbian Church demands action over beating of parishioner in Kosovo)
The church was erected by the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral of the Serbian Orthodox Church in 2005. The authors of the petition describe its appearance as an "occupation," and the Orthodox shrine itself as a "provocation and threat" to the Albanian population living in the area.
The Albanian minority of Montenegro predominantly professes Islam. However, the party itself presents the petition specifically as an Albanian political force.
Previously, the UOJ reported that Islamists in Nigeria killed three Christians in one week.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94952-in-montenegro-an-albanian-party-demands-the-demolition-of-an-orthodox-church</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Bulgarian cleric who concelebrated with OCU has his suspension extended]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94953-bulgarian-cleric-who-concelebrated-with-the-ocu-has-his-suspension-from-ministry-extended</link><description><![CDATA[Archimandrite Nikanor’s suspension from clerical duties has been extended for another 15 days due to the ongoing ecclesiastical trial.]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 13 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[On August 10, 2026, Patriarch Daniil of Bulgaria suspended Archimandrite Nikanor (Mishkov) from performing divine services. The Bulgarian Church restricted the cleric's rights due to the ongoing legal proceedings against him.
The new ecclesiastical suspension (“argos”) will take effect on August 13, 2026, thereby extending the previous disciplinary measure.
Блок - по темі (BOC cleric who served with OCU sought to sway patriarchal election, media)
The Sofia Diocesan Ecclesiastical Court is currently handling Case No. 2/2026 against Archimandrite Nikanor. The ecclesiastical judges are examining the cleric’s alleged violations under Article 95, paragraph 19, and Article 139, paragraph 2, of the Statute of the Bulgarian Church – actions deemed incompatible with the priestly rank and monastic vows of obedience, as well as actions undermining the authority of the Church.
Previously, the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Church had already published its position regarding the archimandrite. As the UOJ reported, the hierarchs condemned the cleric's offensive statements and slander against  Patriarch Daniil.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94953-bulgarian-cleric-who-concelebrated-with-the-ocu-has-his-suspension-from-ministry-extended</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Thousands of Orthodox Christians in Poland venerate Supraśl Icon of Theotokos]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94950-thousands-of-orthodox-christians-in-poland-venerate-the-suprasl-icon-of-the-mother-of-god</link><description><![CDATA[In Poland, thousands of Orthodox believers took part in celebrations honoring the revered Supraśl Icon of the Mother of God, "Hodegetria."]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 13 Aug 2026 11:50:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[On August 10, 2026, the celebrations in honor of the Suprasl Icon of the Mother of God "Hodegetria" concluded at the Supraśl Annunciation Monastery, drawing thousands of Orthodox faithful from Poland and other countries, reports the official website of the Polish Orthodox Church.
The monastery is located in the town of Supraśl in the Podlaskie Voivodeship, near Białystok. Many believers traveled there as part of traditional pilgrimages—on foot from Białystok and by kayak from Gródek. This year, for the first time, pilgrims from Estonia arrived for the celebration as part of an organized group.
Блок - по темі (Ukrainian Consul General meets Polish bishop to discuss support for faithful)
The celebrations began on August 9 with an All-Night Vigil, led by Archbishop James of Białystok and Gdańsk. He was joined by hierarchs of the Polish Orthodox Church and Bishop Daniel of Tartu, Estonia. On the feast day, three Divine Liturgies were celebrated at the monastery, the main one taking place at an outdoor altar.
After the service, the traditional procession was held around the Church of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos. During his sermon, Fr. Jan Fedorchuk spoke of the Mother of God as the intercessor of the faithful before God. Archbishop James also read out an address from Metropolitan Sawa of Warsaw and All Poland, who was unable to attend due to his health.
The monastery’s abbot, Bishop Andrew of Supraśl, thanked the clergy and pilgrims for taking part in the celebrations. He also noted that 2026 marks the 1,400th anniversary of the establishment of the Akathist to the Mother of God. At Supraśl Monastery, the Akathist is traditionally served every Wednesday before the venerated icon.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that Dumenko and the ambassador to Poland sought mutual understanding between the countries.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94950-thousands-of-orthodox-christians-in-poland-venerate-the-suprasl-icon-of-the-mother-of-god</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Cyprus and Greece record highest levels of antisemitism in EU]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94951-cyprus-and-greece-record-highest-levels-of-antisemitism-in-the-eu</link><description><![CDATA[The majority of survey participants in Cyprus said that Jewish circles have excessive influence in international business.]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 13 Aug 2026 11:41:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[Researchers from the human rights organization ADL have recorded the highest levels of antisemitic sentiment among EU countries in Cyprus and Greece. According to the results of a global survey, more than half of the adult population in these Mediterranean countries share similar views, reports the GreekReporter.
Блок - по темі (Soros foundation to commit $30 million to combat antisemitism and Islamophobia)
In Cyprus, sociologists identified negative attitudes toward Jews among 627,000 people, which constitutes a majority of the country's population, given that the total number of residents is less than one million. At the same time, 81% of Cypriot respondents expressed the conviction that Jews have too much influence in global business. The results show that Cyprus ranks first in the region in terms of antisemitic sentiment.
Greece took second place in the European ranking, where approximately 4.3 million adult citizens demonstrate a high level of antisemitism. Two thirds of survey participants in the country believe in the existence of a small group of people who secretly control key world events.
Belgium ranked third on the list with a figure of 30% , while the average level of such sentiment in the rest of Western Europe is only 17%.
Globally, researchers estimate the share of the adult population holding antisemitic views at 46%, which amounts to 2.2 billion people and is more than twice the figure recorded a decade ago.
As the UOJ reported, Ukraine has decided to introduce the post of coordinator for combating antisemitism.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94951-cyprus-and-greece-record-highest-levels-of-antisemitism-in-the-eu</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Religious procession to Vashkivtsi monastery begin in Bukovyna]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94949-a-religious-procession-to-the-monastery-in-vashkovtsy-has-begun-in-bukovyna</link><description><![CDATA[UOC believers set out in a religious procession to the Saint Anna Convent in Vashkivtsi ahead of the patronal feast of the Maccabean Martyrs.]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 13 Aug 2026 10:00:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[On August 13, 2026, in Bukovyna, the UOC faithful began a religious procession to the Convent of the Holy Righteous Anna in the town of Vashkivtsi. The procession is taking place on the eve of the patronal feast of the Maccabean Martyrs, reports a UOJ correspondent.
A large column of pilgrims is moving through the streets of Vashkivtsi toward the monastery. Among the participants of the religious procession are clergy, adults, and children. The faithful are carrying crosses, church banners, and icons of the Mother of God, accompanying the procession with prayer.
Блок - по темі (UOC believers participate in procession with St. Spyridon's relics in Corfu)
The religious procession is heading to the Convent of the Holy Righteous Anna, where believers from various parishes of Bukovyna traditionally gather for the patronal feast.
At the convent, the pilgrims will take part in the festive worship services in honor of the Holy Maccabean Martyrs.



Previously, the UOJ reported that in Oleksandrivka, the faithful held a religious procession to the site of Virgin Mary’s apparition.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94949-a-religious-procession-to-the-monastery-in-vashkovtsy-has-begun-in-bukovyna</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[In Nigeria, Islamists kill three Christians in one week]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94948-in-nigeria-islamists-killed-three-christians-in-one-week</link><description><![CDATA[In Nigeria's Plateau State, Fulani militants continue to attack Christian communities; one of the victims was shot on his way to a Sunday morning worship service.]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 13 Aug 2026 09:47:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[On August 10, 2026, reports emerged of a series of attacks on Christians in Plateau State in central Nigeria, in which three believers were killed within one week, reports the Christian Daily International.
On August 9, in the village of Fann, armed militants shot a man who was on his way to a Sunday worship service with a Bible in his hands. According to local residents, the attacks were carried out by Fulani militants, members of radical Islamist groups operating in central Nigeria. Representatives of the local community confirmed the killing and called on the authorities to find and prosecute those responsible.
Блок - по темі (US military intervention did not protect Nigeria's Christians, lawyer says)
Another attack occurred on August 4 in the village of Kuk. Armed men broke into the home of a Protestant pastor and opened fire. The pastor’s son was fatally shot during the invasion. Local civilian guards halted the attack, engaging the assailants and forcing them to flee before soldiers arrived from their base three miles away, saving the rest of the family from harm.
On August 5, in Lukfai village, Fulani militants killed another Christian while he was returning to his village of Ganadaji in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area.
On August 3, in the neighboring Nasarawa State, armed men abducted a young Christian woman, a student at a medical school founded by the Evangelical Reformed Church of Christ.
According to the 2026 World Watch List, Nigeria remains one of the most dangerous countries for Christians. Between October 2024 and September 2025, 3,490 Christians were killed in the country, accounting for 72% of all recorded killings of believers for their faith worldwide. Human rights advocates note that some Fulani armed groups adhere to a radical Islamist ideology and regularly carry out attacks on Christian communities.
The UOJ previously reported that a Catholic priest was stabbed to death with a machete in Nigeria.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94948-in-nigeria-islamists-killed-three-christians-in-one-week</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[US military intervention did not protect Nigeria's Christians, lawyer says]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94947-human-rights-defender-us-military-intervention-did-not-protect-christians-in-nigeria</link><description><![CDATA[A Nigerian human rights defender stated that attacks on Christians did not stop following US military intervention, and that militants merely changed their tactics.]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 13 Aug 2026 09:12:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[On August 13, 2026, Nigerian lawyer and human rights defender Jabez Musa, who defends Christians from persecution, stated that US military intervention did not stop attacks on Christians in Nigeria, reports The Christian Post.
Jabez Musa said that following American airstrikes, militants have re-strategized and the attacks have increased instead in all the regions. And it is now going down to the southern part of Nigeria.
Блок - по темі (Nigerian Court rules police can't arrest woman for converting to Chritianity)
In late 2025, the United States carried out airstrikes against militants linked to the Islamic State in northern Nigeria, and in early 2026 deployed military personnel to assist in counter-terrorism operations. But most U.S. troops were withdrawn from the country last month – a move Musa believes left the intervention incomplete.
The human rights defender also spoke about ongoing kidnappings of Christians. During one attack on a church, militants seized a woman with three children. Although the woman escaped the camp, she lost her daughter to complications from an underlying illness along the way. Musa is also handling cases of girls who, according to him, are being kidnapped, forcibly converted to Islam, and subjected to forced marriage.
Musa accused Nigerian authorities of failing to adequately protect Christian communities and called on the international community to respond more swiftly to what is happening. According to him, people continue to be killed and kidnapped, and many Christians are forced to leave their homes and live in camps for displaced persons.
The UOJ previously reported that a joint wedding was organized in Nigeria for 300 Christian and Muslim couples.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94947-human-rights-defender-us-military-intervention-did-not-protect-christians-in-nigeria</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Pharisee did not lie – he was simply a good actor]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/chelovek-i-cerkovy/94946-the-pharisee-did-not-lie-he-was-simply-a-good-actor</link><description><![CDATA[We might think that the Pharisee’s sin is deception. But one cannot deceive God. The Pharisee does something far more terrible: he closes the only door through which grace enters.]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:17:00 +0300</pubDate><category>Man and Church</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[There is a sin for which I cannot accuse anyone without first accusing myself. It is not envy or anger – that would be too too commonplace. It is the habit of presenting ourselves to others in the costume of a prosperous, well-adjusted Christian, even when inside there has long been nothing but scorched earth.
We probably all do this. We smile politely at the entrance to the church, even though all week we have been suffocating from exhaustion and resentment. "Thank God, everything is fine," we tell someone close to us, when what we really want is to tell them the truth. We keep up appearances—because showing our true face is more frightening than lying.
Блок - по темі (Смирение начинается с закрытых глаз)
Hypocrisy is inherent in us. It is a basic setting of a person who fears being rejected by society. We wear a mask not because we want to deceive but because we are tormented by the thought: what if, when they see the real me, they reject me?
An actor who never stops playing the role
The word “hypocrite” used in the Gospel has theatrical roots. It referred to an actor performing a role in a mask. When Christ rebukes the Pharisees – “outwardly you appear righteous to men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness” (Matt. 23:28) – He is not speaking about a set of bad deeds. He is speaking about a man who has become so absorbed in his role that he can no longer step out of his falsely pious image.
An actor steps onto the stage and speaks someone else’s words. This is normal as long as he remembers that it is a role written by a playwright.

But then the applause dies down, the curtain falls, and the actor is still standing in makeup, speaking in a rehearsed voice. The mask has ceased to be a theatrical prop and has become the performer’s true face.

The Pharisee in the Gospel parable is precisely such an actor. He is not a cynical deceiver rubbing his hands behind the scenes. He may himself sincerely believe that his role is his true nature.
The naked tax collector
Two men entered the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, who kept the fast impeccably, paid tithes to the Temple, and observed the Law. The other was a tax collector, bearing a permanent stigma of public shame. And Christ declares that the tax collector went home more justified than the Pharisee.
Why? Not because the tax collector’s sins were less serious. But because the Pharisee came to the temple already dressed in his theatrical costume. Everything about him was pressed and buttoned up. His well-being had no need of God’s mercy. Indeed: why show mercy to one who is already blameless?
The tax collector came to God naked. His wrongdoings had not a single excuse. And it turned out that this very nakedness became the spiritual garment by which God recognizes His children.
The physician comes only to the sick
The Apostle Paul asked the Lord three times to deliver him from the “thorn in the flesh”—some painful affliction whose nature remains a matter of debate to this day. And he received an answer he did not expect: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9).
Christ did not say to him: "Your infirmity will pass if you pray more fervently," or "Grace will come only when you have corrected yourself."

The power of God is made perfect in weakness – where Paul’s human strength is insufficient, God makes up for what is lacking.

And the Apostle makes an unexpected decision: he stops hiding his weakness and begins to boast of it. But not out of pride – rather out of an awareness of God’s unconditional supremacy over man.
This is the truly Christian approach to self-examination, which we persistently ignore. We think: first I will recover, heal my inner wounds, and only then will I present myself before God as a decent person. We forget that the physician comes only to the sick (Matt. 9:12). As long as the bleeding wound is hidden beneath bandages and clothing, the physician cannot see it.
Hypocrisy – discord with oneself
St. John Climacus wrote that “hypocrisy is a disposition in which the body and soul are at odds with each other, interwoven with every kind of invention.” The body says one thing, the soul knows another – and the relationship between them is strained.
The holy ascetic calls simplicity the opposite of hypocrisy. “Simplicity is an established habit of the soul that has become a stranger to all duplicity and incapable of guile,” he says. A habit is always something developed over years, like building muscle.
St. Theophan the Recluse was convinced that a person knows what God requires of them and sees the discrepancy between their life and those requirements. Instead of changing their heart, however, they try to appear pious to draw attention to themselves, win praise, or conceal impure intentions behind a respectable façade.

Hypocrisy does not begin where a person has just acknowledged his sinfulness. It begins where a person, who already knows everything about himself, chooses to wear a mask instead of working on himself.

How Christianity beat Western science
In modern psychology, there is a term known as "face-saving." It was developed in the West in the middle of the last century.
But as early as 1944, the Chinese anthropologist Hu Hsien-Chin published an article in which she was the first to systematically break down the Chinese concept of "face" into two layers: lian – moral reputation and one’s conscience before oneself, and mianzi – social status and prestige in the eyes of others. A decade later, sociologist Erving Goffman drew on this work when formulating his famous theory of “face-work.”
This leads to a remarkable conclusion.. Chinese and Western scholars explained scientifically what might be called a "mask show" centuries after Christian culture had already recognized in Pharisaism a threat to the human psyche and spirituality.
A Potemkin village within the human soul
There is a metaphor used to describe elaborate façades behind which there is nothing. It is called a “Potemkin village.”

TThat is precisely what preserving a respectable appearance at all costs amounts to: building such a village within the soul. Over time, we ourselves begin to believe that the impeccably clean streets we have painted, brightly lit and perfectly presentable, are real.

Only God does not pass through these streets in a motorcade, gazing indifferently out of a car window. He stops and enters the depths of our soul. And where a habitable room should have been prepared for Him, He finds only painted canvas.
Difference between confession and performance
True spiritual poverty requires no audience and no applause. It is directed toward the One before Whom there is neither reason nor possibility to hide.
A mask that has become ingrained in the face is not removed by a single effort or in a single attempt. To be freed from it, one does not need penitential monologues or hysterical analyses of one’s own sins.

Start small: stop putting on a different face when you fear that others might see the real you.

To tell God, in private, the unflattering truth about oneself. And then, perhaps for the first time in a long while, the Physician will see the festering wound and deliver us forever from its tormenting pain.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/chelovek-i-cerkovy/94946-the-pharisee-did-not-lie-he-was-simply-a-good-actor</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Konotop Eparchy venerates miraculous Vorhol Icon of Mother of God]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94945-the-konotop-diocese-honored-the-miraculous-vorghol-icon-of-the-mother-of-god</link><description><![CDATA[Metropolitan Roman of Konotop and Hlukhiv celebrated the Liturgy at the site where the Vorhol Icon of the Mother of God appeared.]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 2026 23:16:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[On August 12, 2026, the feast day of the Vorhol Icon of the Mother of God, Metropolitan Roman of Konotop and Hlukhiv celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the village of Vorhol at the site where the miraculous icon appeared and led a rite of glorification before the holy image, the Konotop Eparchy of the UOC reports.
The Vorhol Icon of the Mother of God was kept for centuries in the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in the village of Vorhol, Hlukhiv district of the Chernihiv Governorate. According to historical accounts, the ancient icon had been kept in the church since time immemorial. An inscription on the silver crown adorning the icon stated that it had been donated in 1751.
Блок - по темі (В Изюмской епархии прошел крестный ход к месту обретения чудотворной иконы)
Tradition associates the Vorhol icon with numerous cases of miraculous help and healing. In 1850, Church authorities ordered a special investigation into reports of miracles, after which the Holy Synod authorized the local veneration of the Vorhol Icon of the Mother of God.
Particularly well known are accounts dating back to the cholera epidemic of 1848. The icon was carried in procession through affected areas and, according to historical Church records, after the icon was brought there, the disease subsided and eventually ceased. In 1867, the local clergy also reported to the eparchial authorities seven documented cases of healing from various illnesses.
During the atheist persecutions, the church in Vorhol was destroyed and the original wonderworking icon disappeared. Copies of the Vorhol Icon and a description of the original have survived to this day.
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, a rite of glorification was celebrated before the Vorhol Icon of the Mother of God. Metropolitan Roman congratulated the clergy and parishioners on the feast and then sprinkled the faithful with holy water.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that thousands of faithful prayerfully honored the Mother of God at Pochaiv Lavra.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94945-the-konotop-diocese-honored-the-miraculous-vorghol-icon-of-the-mother-of-god</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[UOC comments on collapse of Khotyn Fortress wall]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94944-the-uoc-commented-on-the-collapse-of-the-wall-of-khotyn-fortress</link><description><![CDATA[The Church drew attention to the Culture Ministry’s inaction over collapses at Khotyn Fortress and raised concerns about the fate of churches taken away from religious communities.]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 2026 23:02:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[The Information and Education Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church commented on another collapse of a wall at Khotyn Fortress. The UOC noted that the incident raises particular questions against the backdrop of state policy toward historic churches being taken away from religious communities under the pretext of preserving cultural heritage.
Citing Suspilne, the UOC Information Department said the wall collapse at Khotyn Fortress was already the second such incident this year. The first occurred in April, after which representatives of the National Preserve said further deterioration had been predictable. At the same time, emergency repair work could not be carried out without an approved project and the necessary permits.
Блок - по темі (В Софии Киевской проведут фестиваль украинского кино)
The Church noted that the situation at Khotyn Fortress appears particularly telling against the backdrop of decisions by state authorities concerning UOC churches.
“Of particular concern to believing citizens of Ukraine is the fact that in recent years, under the pretext of ‘preserving cultural heritage,’ religious communities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church have been deprived en masse of the right to pray in their historic churches,” the statement said.
The UOC stressed that state institutions are not always able to ensure the preservation of sites already under their control.
“As the case of Khotyn Fortress shows, state institutions are proving unable to prevent the deterioration even of key cultural heritage sites,” the Information Department noted.
The Church also drew attention to the fate of churches that, after religious communities are barred from using them, begin to host events incompatible with their sacred purpose.
“In Orthodox churches where UOC religious communities were deprived of the right to hold services, things began taking place that are incompatible with the sacred space of a church,” the statement said.
According to the Information Department, this includes concerts, dancing, and other entertainment events held in historic churches using bright lighting and powerful sound equipment.
The Church separately recalled that in early February 2022, the Khotyn Fortress State Historical and Architectural Preserve refused to extend the agreement allowing the UOC religious community to use the Church of St Alexander Nevsky in Khotyn.
The UOC stressed that believers had not only preserved many historic churches but had also restored them after decades of destruction and neglect.
“This raises a rhetorical question: when terminating or refusing to extend agreements with UOC religious communities, is the state truly concerned about the condition of churches that the believers themselves restored from ruins and never allowed to fall into disrepair?” the UOC Information and Education Department said.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that social media users had shown a deteriorating historic church in Poltava region.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94944-the-uoc-commented-on-the-collapse-of-the-wall-of-khotyn-fortress</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Drone hits UOC church in Pamyatne]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94943-a-drone-hit-a-uoc-church-in-pamyatne</link><description><![CDATA[Windows were blown out and the roof was damaged at a church of the Nizhyn Eparchy dedicated to the Holy Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessaloniki during an attack.]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 2026 22:45:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[On the night of August 12, 2026, a UOC church dedicated to the Holy Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessaloniki in the village of Pamiatne, Nizhyn district, was damaged after a drone fell and exploded during a Russian air attack on Chernihiv region, the Nizhyn Eparchy reports.
The blast wave shattered windows in the church and damaged its roof.
Part of the drone also remained in the churchyard.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that a drone struck the dome of a UOC church in Kramatorsk.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94943-a-drone-hit-a-uoc-church-in-pamyatne</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Metropolitan Meletiy consecrates altar of new UOC church in Ispas]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94942-in-ispas-metropolitan-meletiy-consecrated-the-altar-of-a-new-uoc-church</link><description><![CDATA[The ruling bishop of the Chernivtsi diocese performed the consecration of the summer church at the Ascension of the Lord parish.]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 2026 22:03:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[On August 5, 2026, the feast day of the Pochaiv Icon of the Mother of God, Metropolitan Meletiy of Chernivtsi and Bukovyna visited the Ascension of the Lord parish in the village of Ispas, Vyzhnytsia deanery, where he performed the rite of consecration of the altar of the summer church, a UOJ correspondent reports.
Блок - по темі (Верующие УПЦ приняли участие в крестном ходе в честь св. Спиридона на Корфу)
The hierarch was welcomed by the parish rector, Mitred Archpriest Vitaliy Skorobohach, clergy, and parishioners. Following the consecration, Metropolitan Meletiy celebrated the Divine Liturgy.
During the service, the hierarch and clergy prayed for peace in Ukraine, deliverance from the enemy, the preservation of the lives of those who have lost their homes, and God’s blessing upon those who provide assistance to people in need.
At the end of the service, Metropolitan Meletiy congratulated the clergy and faithful on the consecration of the altar and addressed them with an archpastoral word of instruction.
Parish rector Archpriest Vitaliy Skorobohach thanked Metropolitan Meletiy for his archpastoral visit and the clergy and parishioners for their joint prayer and participation in the festive service.




Earlier, the UOJ reported that Metropolitan Theodore of Mukachevo consecrated a new church at the monastery in the village of Rakoshyno.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94942-in-ispas-metropolitan-meletiy-consecrated-the-altar-of-a-new-uoc-church</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Who will tell a bishop he is wrong?]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/zashhita-very/94941-who-will-tell-a-bishop-he-is-wrong</link><description><![CDATA[Why is confidence in one’s own rightness so easily mistaken for spiritual growth – and why is this conversation not only about bishops?]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 2026 19:24:00 +0300</pubDate><category>Faith Protection</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[World Orthodoxy is becoming increasingly divided into camps whose representatives relentlessly criticize one another. There is probably little point in dissecting the arguments of each side. It is more important to understand why the current situation in Orthodoxy became possible in the first place. Why do respected hierarchs and primates of Local Churches consider it acceptable to say and do things they should not? And what does any of this have to do with each of us personally?
The Stanford experiment
Let us begin from afar. In the summer of 1971, an advertisement appeared in Palo Alto, California, seeking volunteers for a psychological study of prison life. The researchers were not really studying prisons, but people: which is stronger – a person’s character or the role assigned to him?
Around seventy people responded. The researchers carefully screened out anyone with a criminal record, aggressive tendencies, or health problems. In other words, those selected for the experiment were deliberately chosen as well-adjusted young men – students at a good university, future lawyers and doctors.
Who would become a guard and who a prisoner was decided by chance. This detail deserves particular attention: there was no difference between the people in the two groups – their roles were assigned randomly.
The “prisoners” were taken to the basement of Stanford University’s psychology department, stripped, given smocks with numbers instead of names, and fitted with chains around their ankles – just like in a real prison. Except, let us remind ourselves once again, the “prison” was imaginary, and the people were merely playing the role of “prisoners.” But...
By the second day, the “guards” were already waking their charges in the middle of the night for roll calls, forcing them to do push-ups as punishment, taking away their mattresses, putting them in a closet that served as solitary confinement, and placing bags over their heads. That same day, the “prisoners” tried to rebel – and the “guards” responded by using a carbon-dioxide fire extinguisher, storming the cells, stripping the ringleaders, and removing their beds.
That was the turning point: what had been written into the scenario for the “guards” became “natural” behavior for them. They had acquired a taste for power.
By the third day, some of the “prisoners” began experiencing what later reports described as acute stress reactions: crying, panic attacks, pleas for mercy. The experiment, which was supposed to last two weeks, was terminated on the sixth day.
The man everyone forgets
This is usually where the story ends: ordinary students became brutal guards in less than a week. But the most interesting person in this story was not one of the “guards.” It was the man who had set the whole thing up.
Philip Zimbardo did not observe the experiment from the sidelines. He assumed the role of “prison superintendent” and, as later became clear, found himself trapped inside his own construct as well. Thirty-six years later, he wrote a book about what happened, The Lucifer Effect, which could be described as not only scientific but also penitential. Zimbardo described his own transformation very clearly: the people around him treated him as though he really were the prison superintendent – and he became one.
At the same time, he emphasized the difference between himself and the participants. They were merely inexperienced young men with almost no life experience, while he was a mature man, an experienced researcher who understood perfectly well what was happening. And yet he, too, gradually became a living embodiment of prison authority: he began to walk, speak, and carry himself the way others expected him to.
Over the past several decades, a large body of observations has accumulated showing that people who are given even a temporary taste of power become less able to understand other people’s perspectives and less responsive to their pain – while becoming noticeably more confident in their own judgments. They listen to advice less often and, as a result, make more mistakes. Psychiatrists observing politicians have proposed a separate term for this condition – “hubris syndrome.” It develops in people who have spent a long time at the top and, tellingly, usually subsides soon after they leave office.

Now put all these pieces together: a person never doubts that he is right, does not hear objections, has little sense of what those around him are feeling, gives orders without understanding how they will affect other people’s lives, and is utterly convinced that he has the right to interfere in those lives. Does the portrait look familiar?

If it does, let us continue.
Our own basement
If we bring all of this inside the Church, the picture becomes unsettling – and in many respects even more dangerous than Zimbardo’s experiment.
Блок - по темі (Церковь должна быть «с народом» или с Богом?)
There, all the participants knew from the outset that it was only a game and that in two weeks they would go home. And still, the game became reality. In the Church, however, everything is real. A parishioner who says, “Father, it is all thanks to your prayers,” usually genuinely believes that the priest’s prayer is more powerful than his own. The form of address “Holy Master” is not flattery but wording enshrined in liturgical books. And the Many Years is not sung as a joke.
You can leave a fake prison simply by announcing that the experiment is over. But the order of Church life is real, not invented, and it did not arise from anyone’s malicious design.
Day after day, year after year, a person lives in an environment where people kiss his hand, rise when he enters, do not interrupt him, and do not contradict him openly. He is called wise and discerning, while his personal opinions about medicine, politics, raising children, or choosing a profession are treated as instructions to be followed. And most importantly, practically no one ever tells him “no.”
The result is exactly what Zimbardo described. When everyone around you treats you as though you really are “holy” and “wise,” sooner or later you begin to feel that way yourself.

You stop allowing for the possibility that you might be wrong. You listen to other people’s opinions merely out of politeness. Your instructions have less and less to do with the actual circumstances of the lives of those to whom they are addressed – because no one has told you the truth about those lives for a long time, and you no longer see that reality yourself. And with ever greater confidence, you begin making decisions for others that no one has the right to make for them.

Worst of all, from the outside this does not look like “hubris syndrome” but like “spiritual growth.” Confidence in one’s words is perceived by others as firmness of conviction, deafness to objections as faithfulness to spiritual principles, and a growing distance from “mere mortals” as spiritual elevation. And no one sounds the alarm, because there appears to be nothing to be alarmed about.
Apostle Peter and his understanding of priestly ministry
When Apostle Peter said, “Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended,” he was neither lying nor putting on a show – he was certain that this was exactly what would happen.
But then the circumstances changed. He was not tortured or threatened with execution – he simply found himself at night in someone else’s courtyard and lost his nerve. A few minutes were enough for everything he believed about himself to crumble into dust.
There is another episode. Years later, already the foremost of the apostles, Peter comes to Antioch and freely eats with the Gentiles. But then “certain came from James” – and he begins withdrawing from the very Gentiles to whom he had preached. A pillar of the Church changes his behavior because another person has entered the room.
So when Apostle Peter addresses pastors, he writes about something he knows from personal experience:
“The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly and according to God; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away” (1 Pet. 5:1–4).
Let us unpack this passage: almost every word matters.
“Also an elder.” In Greek, συμπρεσβύτερος – “fellow presbyter.” An apostle, a disciple of Christ, a witness of the Transfiguration and Gethsemane, addresses presbyters – ordinary priests! – and calls himself one of them. He had every right to write differently and remind them that he was an apostle, and no one would have objected. But Peter humbles himself. This is the first and most important practical lesson in the entire passage: do not play the role others offer you, even when they offer it sincerely.
“A witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed.” The sufferings are in the past – they have already happened, and he witnessed them. But the glory is in the future – it is still “to be revealed.” Between these two points, the pastor is promised nothing. Yet what often happens is that a priest or bishop is offered glory immediately, right here and now.
“Taking the oversight” – ἐπισκοποῦντες. This is the very root from which the word “bishop” comes. It means attentive care and watchfulness, not ruling over others. The Apostle immediately sets a limit: the flock is to be cared for “not by constraint, but willingly.” Not because one’s office requires it, but because of an inner desire to serve Christ in precisely this way.
The Apostle reinforces this thought with the words “not for filthy lucre.” This is not only about money. Lucre is any benefit one derives from ministry: honor, influence, the fear of others, a sense of one’s own importance, the ability to control other people’s lives. Money may actually be the least dangerous form – if only because when people take it, they understand that what they are doing is wrong. Honors, on the other hand, are accepted with a clear conscience.
“Neither as being lords over God’s heritage.” In the original – κατακυριεύοντες. This is the very verb Apostle Peter had heard from Christ Himself: “Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship (κατακυριεύουσιν) over them... but so shall it not be among you” (Mark 10:42–43). The authority of a clergyman, including a bishop, does not consist in being a master but in being a servant.
Peter then speaks of “God’s heritage.” The people in a parish or eparchy are neither property nor subordinates. They are a portion of someone else’s possession entrusted to a pastor’s care. And he will have to give an account of it to the One who entrusted it to him.
“But being examples to the flock.” The only instrument of authority the Apostle leaves to a pastor is his own example. And that, incidentally, is an instrument that cannot be wielded from an office, delegated to someone else, or faked.
How do I know if I have “hubris syndrome”?
The Church knew that external circumstances shape a person long before the Stanford basement. In the third book of On the Priesthood, St John Chrysostom examines in detail how the very atmosphere of “reverence” in which a pastor lives affects his soul. He concludes that the greatest danger comes not from persecutors or heretics, but precisely from there – from admirers.
But we cannot say that because circumstances are to blame, the person himself bears no responsibility. Freedom consists precisely in remaining yourself within an environment that exerts pressure on you. At the same time, the right conclusion is not simply that “you need to be strong in spirit.” It is more important to arrange your life in such a way that you do not have to rely solely on your own strength, wisdom, and imagined holiness.

Put very simply: every priest – and all the more so every bishop – needs someone in his life who is capable of telling him that he is wrong.

For a married priest, much of this role is played by his family. His wife and children see him without his vestments. And if it irritates him that no one bows to him at home the way they do in church, that is a bad sign.
Besides people who tell us the truth, we also need questions we can ask ourselves:
When was the last time I changed a decision because someone persuaded me that I was wrong?When was the last time I asked forgiveness from someone who depends on me?When was the last time I heard the word “no” from the people around me?
The answers will show us what is going wrong.
And one more thing – perhaps the hardest of all: we must learn to distinguish respect for the priesthood from respect for ourselves. It is not your hand they are kissing, and it is not you they are honoring. At every Liturgy, while the choir sings the Cherubic Hymn, the priest reads a prayer that begins with the words, “No one who is bound with the desires and pleasures of the flesh is worthy to approach or draw near or to minister to Thee, O King of Glory,” and before receiving Communion he calls himself the chief of sinners.
Instead of a conclusion
We are almost never who we appear to be. And, more uncomfortably still, we are almost never who we imagine ourselves to be. Our image of ourselves is only a flattering picture that lasts until circumstances change.
That brings us back to where we began. When a bishop or the primate of a Local Church says and does things he should not, the easiest explanation is malice or calculation. Sometimes that really is the case. But more often, what we are seeing is the same phenomenon that unfolded in the Stanford basement – except stretched out not over six days, but over decades. And no one is going to open the door: there is no one here to announce that the experiment is over.
The problem is also that there may long since be no one left around the hierarch who can tell him, “You are wrong,” without being punished for it. He does not fail to hear an opponent because he refuses to listen – there is simply no one left who will tell him an uncomfortable truth.
This is not a condemnation of the Church hierarchy. It is a conversation about something that happens to every one of us in exactly the same way – only on a smaller scale. A rector in his parish, a father in his family, a manager in his department – each can find himself in the same basement.
The Lord wants us to live by the words of the Gospel: “Whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister” (Mark 10:43). Rank, position, and the reverence of those around us do not in themselves make us better. There is only one Chief Shepherd who can transform us – Christ. And before Him will stand only the person each of us has truly become.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/zashhita-very/94941-who-will-tell-a-bishop-he-is-wrong</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Cathedral tower collapses in Colombia earthquake]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94940-a-tower-of-a-catholic-cathedral-collapsed-during-an-earthquake-in-colombia</link><description><![CDATA[A magnitude 7.4 earthquake in Colombia damaged the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary in Manizales, causing one of its towers to collapse.]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 2026 18:59:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[On August 10, 2026, one of the towers of the Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary in Manizales, Colombia, collapsed during a magnitude 7.4 earthquake, El Espectador reports.
The tremors damaged the church building, leaving cracks in its structure, while the right-side tower collapsed toward the central nave. The cross mounted on the cathedral was also displaced, and debris fell around the building.
Блок - по темі (В Бордо загорелась готическая базилика XIV века)
Access to the cathedral was restricted after the earthquake. Specialists are carrying out a technical inspection to determine the extent of the damage and whether it is safe to enter the building. No injuries inside the cathedral itself have been reported.
The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary is one of Manizales’ landmarks and has held cultural heritage status since 1984. Other buildings in the city were also damaged.
The earthquake also caused destruction in other parts of Colombia, including Cali and Pereira. Authorities continue to assess the impact of the disaster and inspect damaged structures.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that two historic Catholic churches in France burned down in a single day.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94940-a-tower-of-a-catholic-cathedral-collapsed-during-an-earthquake-in-colombia</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Serbian Church demands action over beating of parishioner in Kosovo]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94939-serbian-church-demands-response-to-beating-of-parishioner-in-kosovo</link><description><![CDATA[The Raška-Prizren Eparchy of the Serbian Orthodox Church has called for an investigation into the beating of a Serb who reported violence by Kosovo police officers.]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 2026 18:49:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[On August 12, 2026, the Raška-Prizren Eparchy of the Serbian Orthodox Church demanded an investigation into the alleged beating of a parishioner by Kosovo police officers, UOJ in Serbia reports.
Nenad Rašković, a resident of the village of Dren, said that three police officers first beat him in his own home while demanding that he hand over a rifle which, according to him, he did not possess. He said the officers then handcuffed him, took him into a forest, tied him to a tree, and continued beating him with a rubber hose while covering his mouth with a cloth.
Блок - по темі (Миротворцы НАТО и сенатор США обсудили безопасность сербских святынь Косово)
Rašković was hospitalized with injuries to his head and chest and a fractured rib. Because of the severity of his condition, he was later transferred to Belgrade for treatment.
The eparchy said an investigation must establish who was responsible, stressing that no police action can justify the beating and humiliation of a person. The Church called for the case to be handled by the prosecutor’s office and the police inspectorate under the supervision of the ombudsman and EULEX – the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo.
The Raška-Prizren Eparchy also demanded that, if the allegations are confirmed, the police officers involved be removed from operational duties until the investigation is completed and that Rašković and his family be provided with protection. Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija were urged to remain calm, avoid provocations, and report any threats or acts of violence.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Serbian Church had warned of the worsening situation of Serbs in Kosovo.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94939-serbian-church-demands-response-to-beating-of-parishioner-in-kosovo</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Bulgaria: Pilgrims walk 120 km in procession to Rila Monastery]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94938-in-bulgaria-pilgrims-walked-120-km-in-a-cross-procession-to-rila-monastery</link><description><![CDATA[More than 100 Orthodox Christians walked from Sofia to Rila Monastery, retracing the route along which the relics of St John of Rila were transferred.]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 2026 18:35:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[The traditional “Rila Wonderworker” pilgrimage route has concluded in Bulgaria, with more than 100 Orthodox Christians from Bulgaria and other countries walking about 120 kilometers from Sofia to Rila Monastery, the Sofia Metropolis press service reports.
The procession began on August 1 and symbolically retraced the route of the transfer of the relics of St John of Rila in 1469 from Tarnovgrad through Sofia to Rila Monastery. Along the way, the pilgrims took part in divine services, prayers, and church hymns.
Блок - по темі (В Софии больная женщина чудесно исцелилась у Гавайской иконы Богородицы)
On August 5, Bulgarian Patriarch Daniel joined the pilgrims. He climbed on foot to the Seven Rila Lakes at an altitude of 2,282 meters, where he celebrated a festive blessing of the waters at Babreka Lake. Bishop Ioan of Branitsa, Bishop Hierotheos of Agathopolis, and clergy of the Sofia Metropolis prayed with him.
Addressing the pilgrims, Patriarch Daniel urged them to set an example for those who are only beginning their journey toward faith. He also recalled the testament of St John of Rila, who called on Christians to preserve unity, avoid divisions, and resist greed.
After the blessing of the waters, the participants continued on to Rila Monastery, where the procession concluded. The following day, on the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, the pilgrims took part in a hierarchical Liturgy at the monastery’s Cathedral of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that hundreds of faithful in Bulgaria welcomed the Hawaiian Icon of the Mother of God.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94938-in-bulgaria-pilgrims-walked-120-km-in-a-cross-procession-to-rila-monastery</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Serbian priest criticizes plans for pantheon at Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94931-serbian-priest-criticizes-decision-to-create-a-pantheon-at-the-lavra</link><description><![CDATA[Only monks may be buried at a monastery, and the Lavra is not a museum site but a place of worship, Serbian priest Siniša Buvač stressed.]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 2026 18:19:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[The Ukrainian authorities’ decision to establish a pantheon of heroes on the grounds of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra runs contrary to the Church tradition of burial at monasteries, priest Siniša Buvač, a cleric of the Banat Eparchy of the Serbian Orthodox Church, told the UOJ.
He stressed that the tradition of burying people near churches is indeed ancient and that cemeteries have long existed beside churches. A monastery, however, lives by different rules, he said.
Блок - по темі («Храм всех богов» вместо дома Богородицы: зачем власти пантеон в Лавре)
“It is impossible to establish ordinary cemeteries at Ostrog Monastery or Visoki Dečani Monastery. Only monks and abbots who have earned such an honor may be buried there,” the priest said.
In his view, the same principle applies to the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra: “I see the Lavra in the same way – if a cemetery is ever established on its grounds, only monks may be buried there, not laypeople.”
The cleric also commented separately on the authorities’ establishment of a museum at the monastery. “As a priest, I strongly condemn such an overt attempt to appropriate what belongs to others,” he said.
The priest also recalled the status of UNESCO World Heritage sites, which include Visoki Dečani Monastery, while the monastery itself retains its autonomy. “Of course, all cultural monuments must be respected and protected. However, the Lavra is not merely a historical site. The Lavra is a place of prayer,” he stressed.
“The Church is not a circus. The Church is a sacred institution that must preserve its autonomy and independence,” Fr Siniša said, adding that believers face difficult trials, but “the gates of hell shall not prevail against the Church.”
Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Cabinet of Ministers had disclosed details of plans to build a pantheon at the Lavra.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94931-serbian-priest-criticizes-decision-to-create-a-pantheon-at-the-lavra</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Amsterdam: Armenian authorities persecute Church following “Ukrainian scenario”]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94936-amsterdam-armenian-authorities-are-persecuting-the-church-according-to-the-ukrainian-scenario</link><description><![CDATA[Attorney Robert Amsterdam said that the Armenian authorities are seeking to bring the Armenian Apostolic Church under their control, following what he called the “Ukrainian scenario.”]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 2026 16:13:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[On August 12, 2026, international attorney Robert Amsterdam spoke about the persecution of the Armenian Apostolic Church and Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, Alpha News reports.
According to Amsterdam, the Armenian authorities are attempting to reshape the Church and effectively turn it into an arm of the state apparatus. “What is happening recalls the processes surrounding the Ukrainian Orthodox Church,” the attorney said, adding that such actions violate European and international law.
Блок - по темі (Амстердам назвал суд над главой Армянской церкви моральной катастрофой)
Amsterdam called on Washington, Brussels, and other Western capitals to respond to the situation. He described the proceedings against Church representatives and the persecution of the Catholicos a “disgrace,” saying they constitute violations of human rights and religious freedom.
On August 7, the first hearing in the case involving Karekin II and six bishops was held in Etchmiadzin. The Catholicos appeared in court in person, but Judge Hakob Manukyan recused himself, after which the case was reassigned to another judge.
The criminal proceedings stem from Karekin II’s decision to defrock Bishop Gevorg Saroyan, who sided with the authorities in their conflict with the Armenian Apostolic Church. In addition to the Catholicos, six other members of the Supreme Spiritual Council are defendants in the case.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that the case against the Catholicos had been sent to court in Armenia and that he could face imprisonment.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94936-amsterdam-armenian-authorities-are-persecuting-the-church-according-to-the-ukrainian-scenario</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lutheran archbishop opposes demolition of Tallinn Orthodox cathedral]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94935-lutheran-archbishop-speaks-out-against-demolition-of-tallinns-orthodox-cathedral</link><description><![CDATA[Lutheran Archbishop Urmas Viilma said that an active Orthodox church in Tallinn should not be demolished because of its historical and political symbolism.]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 2026 15:37:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[On August 12, 2026, Archbishop Urmas Viilma of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church spoke out against the demolition of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Tallinn, ERR reports.
The debate over the cathedral’s future began after Estonian Interior Minister Igor Taro raised the issue of terminating its lease agreement. Proposals then emerged to sell the cathedral, relocate it, turn it into a museum, or demolish it. The initiatives have been justified by the cathedral’s ties to the Moscow Patriarchate and Patriarch Kirill’s position on the war in Ukraine.
Блок - по темі (Глава МВД Эстонии призвал выгнать «московскую» Церковь из собора в Таллине)
Viilma stressed that despite the history of the cathedral’s construction during the era of Russification, today it is first and foremost an active Orthodox church where believers pray, go to confession, take part in the Liturgy, baptize their children, and get married.
The archbishop noted that the meaning of historic buildings can change over time. He recalled that Estonia has preserved other structures associated with periods of foreign rule, regarding them as part of the country’s cultural heritage.
“The idea of closing any active church, ending its use as a place of worship, or demolishing it cannot be considered appropriate for a Christian cultured nation,” Viilma said. According to him, “a cultured nation does not demolish – it builds,” and the future of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral should rest primarily in the hands of Estonia’s Orthodox Christians.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Estonian Church appealed the termination of the lease on its chancery premises in Tallinn.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94935-lutheran-archbishop-speaks-out-against-demolition-of-tallinns-orthodox-cathedral</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[UOC believers participate in procession with St. Spyridon's relics in Corfu]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94934-uoc-faithful-participated-in-the-procession-of-the-cross-in-honor-of-st-spyridon-in-corfu</link><description><![CDATA[UOC pilgrims prayed before the relics of Saint Spyridon of Trimythous and participated in the traditional prayer procession through the streets of Kerkyra.]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 2026 14:11:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[A pilgrimage group of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church made a journey to the Orthodox shrines of Greece. On the island of Corfu, the faithful participated in the annual religious procession with the relics of Saint Spyridon of Trimythous, which took place through the historic streets of the city of Kerkyra on August 11, 2026, reports a UOJ correspondent.
Block - on the topic (Procession held on Corfu in memory of St. Spyridon’s miracle)
The pilgrims also took part in the concelebrated hierarchal Divine Liturgy. Four times a year, Corfu holds major processions – litanies – with the relics of St. Spyridon, which are brought out of the church and carried upright. These processions commemorate the miraculous deliverance of the island’s residents from famine, epidemics, and the Turkish siege. They traditionally include clergy, faithful, choirs, local philharmonic orchestras, and government officials.
The UOC pilgrimage group is led by Mitrophore Archpriest Andriy Serman, head of the Pilgrimage Department of the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Eparchy.




The faithful also plan to visit the holy sites of Mount Athos, a church in Markopoulo on the island of Kefalonia, where snakes appear every year on the feast day of the church’s patron saint, as well as the Monastery of St. Demetrios the Great Martyr in Thessaloniki and other holy places.
Earlier, the pilgrims visited the Sioni Cathedral in Tbilisi, where the tomb of His Holiness Patriarch-Catholicos Ilia II of All Georgia is found. The pilgrims offered prayers for the repose of his soul and continued their journey to Orthodox holy sites in Greece.
As the UOJ reported, "the snakes of Virgin Mary" have once again appeared in the churches of Kefalonia before the Dormition feast.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94934-uoc-faithful-participated-in-the-procession-of-the-cross-in-honor-of-st-spyridon-in-corfu</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[OCU "bishop" with RF passport urges Rada to protect Ukrainians' rights in Crimea]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94933-a-hierarch-of-the-ocu-with-a-russian-passport-called-on-the-rada-to-protect-the-rights-of-ukrainians-in-crimea</link><description><![CDATA[The OCU called on the Rada to protect Ukrainians in Crimea, making no mention of the Russian passport held by the head of the eparchy.]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 2026 13:50:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[The Crimean Eparchy of the OCU has supported a draft resolution of the Verkhovna Rada to establish August 28 as the Day for the Protection of the Rights of the Ukrainian Community of Crimea. "Metropolitan" Celement (Kushch) of Simferopol and Crimea urged MPs to support the initiative, stating that Ukrainians of the peninsula should be active participants in its future de-occupation and reintegration, reports "Holos Krymu" ("Crimea's Voice").
The eparchy stated that following the Russian occupation of Crimea, Ukrainians have faced Russification, the displacement of the Ukrainian language and culture, as well as pressure on Ukrainian civic and religious organizations. In the view of the statement's authors, the protection of the Ukrainian identity of the peninsula is a matter not only of culture but also of Ukraine's national security.
Meanwhile, Clement Kushch himself had previously confirmed that he holds a Russian passport. In an interview, he explained that the document is necessary for him to preserve personal and church property in Crimea. At the same time, the OCU "metropolitan" accused those who raise this issue of working for the FSB.
Now the head of the OCU's Crimean Eparchy is calling on the Ukrainian parliament to protect the rights of Ukrainians in Crimea and preserve their national identity. "The rights of the Ukrainian community of Crimea must be protected. The Ukrainian national identity of Crimea must be preserved," stated Clement Kushch.
As the UOJ previously reported, the OCU "metropolitan" holding a Russian passport had spoken out in support of the law banning the UOC.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94933-a-hierarch-of-the-ocu-with-a-russian-passport-called-on-the-rada-to-protect-the-rights-of-ukrainians-in-crimea</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Izium Eparchy supports displaced persons from frontline areas]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94930-the-izium-diocese-supported-displaced-persons-from-frontline-territories</link><description><![CDATA[The head of the UOC eparchy's Social Department delivered wheelchairs, walkers, canes, and other essential items to Kupiansk and Vovchansk residents.]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 2026 12:57:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[A meeting was held at the dormitory of the V. N. Karazin National University of Kharkiv between the head of the Social Department of the Izium Eparchy of the UOC and residents of frontline areas who had been forced to leave their homes, reports the eparchy's press service.
Блок - по темі (UOC Social Department delivers humanitarian aid to 100 displaced families)
On August 12, 2026, aid was provided to residents of Kupiansk and Vovchansk, as well as the villages of Kovsharivka and Senkove. The IDPs received nine wheelchairs, eight walkers, ten sets of canes, and other essential household items.
The meeting went beyond material assistance. Archpriest Ilia Soroka spoke with the displaced people, held a spiritual discussion, and conveyed to them the blessing of the ruling bishop of the Izium Eparchy.
The eparchy noted that in difficult circumstances, people need not only practical ais but also spiritual support, attention, and simply an opportunity to talk.
The Izium Eparchy continues to hold such meetings for people affected by the war and forced to leave their homes.
“The Church will continue to remain alongside people, supporting them with the word of faith, prayer, and Christian love,” the Izium Eparchy's press service said.
As the UOJ reported, the Odesa Eparchy of the UOC has opened a hotline for those affected by shelling.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94930-the-izium-diocese-supported-displaced-persons-from-frontline-territories</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[US authorities back ROCOR monastery's protest against wind farm construction]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94932-us-authorities-back-rocor-monasterys-protest-against-wind-turbine-construction</link><description><![CDATA[The US Department of Agriculture has sided with the Orthodox monastery in a dispute over the construction of a wind farm near the monastery.]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 2026 12:46:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[The Donald Trump administartion has backed the protest of Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville against the construction of wind farms. An official statement in defense of the historic Orthodox monastery was published by representatives of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), reports the UOJ in the USA.
The government agency confirmed its readiness to protect the monastery's lands from encroachment by commercial entities. "The Trump USDA stands with Holy Trinity Monastery as they work to protect this historic property from foreign-owned wind projects," a USDA spokesman told Heartlander News, expressing the intention to protect this historic monastery from wind energy projects owned by foreign proprietors.
The monastery is opposing Terra-Gen LLC’s proposed Rolling Hills project, which could include about 50 turbines in rural Herkimer County. The company said the project remains in its early planning stages and that its eventual footprint is expected to be substantially smaller than preliminary estimates.
Блок - по темі (Growing Orthodox communities face a shortage of priests in U.S.)
The Holy Trinity Monastery has been carrying out its spiritual ministry for nearly one hundred years and is listed on the US National Register of Historic Places. The monastery cemetery has become the resting place for four thousand Orthodox Christians, and the monastery itself attracts numerous pilgrims from around the world each year. The Trump administration had previously revoked approval for a similar energy project in the state of Idaho, where the installation of wind turbines had been planned near a World War II military memorial.
As the UOJ reported, NATO peacekeepers and a US senator discussed the security of Serbian shrines in Kosovo.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94932-us-authorities-back-rocor-monasterys-protest-against-wind-turbine-construction</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Bulgarian hierarch suffers traffic accident in New York]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94929-in-new-york-a-car-struck-a-hierarch-of-the-bulgarian-church</link><description><![CDATA[Due to a hospital administration error, the diocese spent an entire day searching for the injured metropolitan.]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 2026 12:29:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[In New York, Bulgarian Metropolitan Joseph of the USA, Canada and Australia suffered a traffic accident, in which he was hit by a car. Immediately after the accident, he was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where he underwent the necessary medical examinations and was admitted for treatment, reports the Chancellery of the Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada and Australia.
The incident occurred on August 7, 2026. For an entire day, the diocesan administration searched unsuccessfully for their archpastor. Hospital staff had erroneously registered the bishop in the hospital database under his patronymic instead of his surname. Due to this confusion, search queries by the hierarch's name yielded no results.
Later, the New York Police Department helped the diocesan leadership determine the exact whereabouts of the injured metropolitan and reestablish contact with him.
Блок - по темі (Metropolitan Longin gets into a car accident)
The hierarch escaped serious injuries; as a result of the accident, Metropolitan Joseph sustained a fracture of the little toe on his left foot and underwent a successful surgery. Metropolitan Joseph is currently feeling well, and his condition is stable. Doctors assess the progress of his recovery as encouraging and plan to discharge the patient in the near future.
The diocesan leadership expressed deep gratitude to the clergy and laity for their prayerful support. The Chancellery also called upon the faithful to continue praying for the swift and complete recovery of Metropolitan Joseph.
As the UOJ reported, a monk of the Skete of the Mother of God was killed in a traffic accident on Athos.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94929-in-new-york-a-car-struck-a-hierarch-of-the-bulgarian-church</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[In Haiti, 65 Catholic parishes closed due to armed gang terror]]></title><link>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94928-in-haiti-65-catholic-parishes-closed-due-to-armed-gang-terror</link><description><![CDATA[Armed groups are seizing churches, attacking schools, and abducting clergy.]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 2026 11:26:00 +0300</pubDate><category>News</category><content:encoded><![CDATA[In Haiti, 65 Catholic parishes have been closed due to armed gang violence. Extremists are seizing churches, attacking religious schools, and abducting clergy in order to establish full control over regions of the country, reports Christian Today.
Criminal groups have forcibly closed around 40 parishes in the capital Port-au-Prince, another 15 parishes on the country's Central Plateau, and 10 parishes in the Artibonite department. Armed gangs currently control between 70% and 90% of the capital's territory and are actively expanding their presence in other regions. In areas under their control, bandits impose illegal levies, and the prevailing lawlessness is forcing parishes, schools, and monasteries to hastily vacate their buildings.
Catholic Bishop of Jérémie Joseph Gontran Décoste has reported that churches, clergy, and monastic communities are increasingly becoming targets of planned attacks. "We remain the last barrier – moral, ethical, spiritual, and prophetic," said Bishop Décoste. "That is precisely why they seek to destroy us."
Armed groups are not only burning and looting church buildings and schools but also turning them into fortified bases. Priests, seminarians, and nuns regularly fall victim to violence. In the first seven months of 2026, bandits kidnapped two Catholic priests and killed one seminarian. Earlier, in March 2025, gang members brutally murdered Sisters Evanette and Jeanne of the order of the Little Sisters of Saint Theresa while they were serving in the city of Mirebalais. Throughout 2024, criminals kidnapped nine nuns, five monks, and four priests.
Despite the mortal danger, the Church continues its missionary work wherever possible. Priests and volunteers provide pastoral and practical assistance to thousands of refugees. Radio prayer broadcasts and online lessons help communities stay connected in places where normal parish life has become impossible. Bishop Décoste thanked the faithful for their prayer and financial support, which gives the Church the strength to endure.
As the UOJ reported, 110 people were killed in Haiti over suspicions of involvement in voodoo.]]></content:encoded><guid>https://spzh.eu/en/news/94928-in-haiti-65-catholic-parishes-closed-due-to-armed-gang-terror</guid></item></channel></rss>