Zbarazh City Council bans UOC pilgrimage procession through the town
Pilgrimage procession from Kamianets-Podilskyi to the Pochaiv Lavra. Photo: Pershyi Kozatskyi
On August 22, 2025, the executive committee of the Zbarazh City Council in Ternopil region adopted a decision prohibiting the UOC pilgrimage procession from passing through the territory of the city territorial community.
The ban applies to August 26–27, 2025, the dates when pilgrims were scheduled to pass through Zbarazh.
According to Decision No. 231, the city authorities appealed to the Ternopil Regional Military Administration and the Main Directorate of the National Police of Ukraine in Ternopil region with the corresponding request.
The document was signed by the mayor of Zbarazh, Roman Polikrovskyi.
The text states that the ban was adopted “guided by the Law of Ukraine ‘On Local Self-Government in Ukraine’,” without indicating any reasons.
Earlier, UOJ reported that police blocked about 100 cars carrying participants of the UOC pilgrimage procession heading to Pochaiv at the entrance to Ternopil region.
Read also
Court hearing in Upper Lavra case postponed again
The appeal hearing was adjourned after the monastery’s legal team obtained grounds to seek the recusal of the panel of judges.
300 catechumens expected to be baptized at Pascha in OCA parish
At a parish of the Orthodox Church in America in Riverside, California, around 300 catechumens are preparing during Great Lent to receive Baptism at Pascha.
Nuncio in Ukraine explains why Vatican does not call Russia an aggressor
According to the nuncio, the Pope prefers moral language and avoids terms such as “aggression” and “aggressor.”
Constantinopolitan patriarch to attend Patriarch Ilia's funeral
Patriarch Bartholomew will travel to Tbilisi for the funeral of Patriarch Ilia II of Georgia, which is set to take place on March 22.
MP: Pochaiv Lavra brethren are Moskals, the shrine must be given to Ukraine
Nataliia Pipa called the brethren of the Pochaiv Lavra “enemies” and “occupiers,” and also said she would “apply pressure” to secure the shrine’s “return.”