Deacon of cathedral detained by military recruitment office in Sarny

Deacon Maksym Huzenko. Photo: UOJ

On June 14, 2025, officers from the Territorial Recruitment Center (TRC) detained Deacon Maksym Huzenko, a cleric of the Protection Cathedral in the Sarny Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), according to sources in the eparchy who spoke with the UOJ.

Fr. Maksym has now been held at the recruitment center for two days, and there has been no contact with him. Clergy and parishioners of the cathedral are requesting prayers for the deacon’s safe return to his family and parish.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that in Kremenets, the TRC also detained Archimandrite Paphnutiy, abbot of the Pochaiv Holy Spirit Skete. He was sent to a military unit in Rivne Oblast.

Read also

Met. Varsonofiy сelebrates Liturgy at persecuted UOC parish in Stryzhavka

A UOC hierarch officiated the Nativity service and offered prayers for peace in Ukraine.

Seized Dormition Cathedral in Volodymyr transferred from UOC to OCU control

Huz stated that after being handed to the OCU, the Dormition Cathedral in Volodymyr will be “Ukrainian and alive”.

In Brussels, Cardinal Parolin urges Europe to remember its Christian roots

The Vatican Secretary of State spoke at the Cathedral of Saints Michael and Gudula on the occasion of its eight-hundredth anniversary and recalled Europe’s spiritual mission.

388 mln Christians face persecution and discrimination over faith – report

The organization Portes Ouvertes has published research findings concluding that pressure on believers worldwide has intensified.

Archbishop of Albania: Orthodoxy is a key pillar of Albania’s European path

During a visit to Brussels, the Primate of the Albanian Orthodox Church underscored the importance of Orthodoxy for the country’s integration into the EU and for maintaining interreligious balance in society.

His Beatitude leads divine service at Lavra on Circumcision of the Lord feast

During the festive service at the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, special prayers were offered for peace on the Ukrainian land and for God’s blessing upon the new year.