Rector of Kozary parish, where OCU seized church, reposes in the Lord

Archpriest George Pentiuk. Photo: Nizhyn Eparchy

On April 3, 2026, at the age of 46, cleric of the Nizhyn Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, rector of the Intercession parish in the village of Kozary and the Dormition parish in the village of Irzhavets, Archpriest George Pentiuk, passed away to the Lord, reports the eparchial press service.

Father George was born on April 26, 1980, in the Chernivtsi region. After finishing school, he served obedience in a monastery, then studied at Chernihiv Theological School. In 1998, he was ordained to the rank of deacon and priest by Metropolitan Anthony of Chernihiv and Nizhyn.

Throughout his ministry, he carried out pastoral labors in various parishes of the Chernihiv Eparchy, and from 2001 was rector of the Dormition parish in the village of Irzhavets. In 2011, he also headed the Intercession parish in the village of Kozary, where he served until the last days of his life.

The eparchy notes that Father George was a loving pastor who reverently performed Divine services and enjoyed sincere respect among the faithful.

The 2025 events became a particularly difficult trial for the priest, when the Intercession Church in Kozary was transferred to the OCU through document forgery. On Father George's initiative, a temporary prayer room was arranged for the community, where liturgical life continued uninterrupted.

"However, the obvious injustice and desecration of the church deeply wounded the priest's heart. He suddenly died in his sleep. May the All-Merciful Lord grant rest to the soul of the newly departed Archpriest George in the Heavenly Kingdom!" states the message.

As UOJ wrote, in Baturyn, armed police "guard" the convent from nuns and parishioners.

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