One of the oldest UOC clerics passes away in Odesa Eparchy

Archdeacon Ioann Hanaba. Photo: the Press Service of the Odesa Eparchy

On December 13, 2025, in Odesa, the cleric of the Holy Trinity Cathedral, Archdeacon Ioann Hanaba, one of the oldest clerics of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, reposed in the Lord. This was reported by the press service of the Odesa Eparchy.

Archdeacon Ioann was born on March 29, 1940, in the Khmelnytskyi region. In 1958, he entered the Odesa Theological Seminary, which he graduated from in 1962. In the same year, Metropolitan Borys of Kherson and Odesa ordained him as a deacon.

For many decades, Father Ioann carried out his ministry in the churches of Odesa. He served as a deacon at the Dormition Cathedral, St. Elijah's Church, and the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos. From 1977 until the last days of his life, he served as protodeacon at the Holy Trinity Church, now the Holy Trinity Cathedral. In 2019, on the Feast of Pentecost, he was elevated to the rank of archdeacon.

The Odesa Eparchy notes that Archdeacon Ioann was distinguished not only by his many years of liturgical service but also by his deep understanding of church tradition. He participated in the reconstruction and decoration of the Holy Trinity Cathedral, as well as in the work of the commission for the restoration of the Transfiguration Cathedral of Odesa in 1999. For his zealous work, he was awarded several church honors.

The funeral service will take place on December 15 after the Divine Liturgy, which will be led by the vicar of the Odesa Eparchy, Archbishop Diodor of Yuzhne.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the abbess of the Intercession Convent of the UOC reposed in the Lord in Kryvyi Rih.

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