Vinnytsia Eparchy priest dies in car crash

Archimandrite Job (Tsurkan). Photo: Vinnytsia Eparchy

Archimandrite Job (Tsurkan), a priest of the Vinnytsia Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, died in a traffic accident, the Vinnytsia Eparchy reported on Facebook.

The tragedy occurred late on the evening of September 7, 2026, at around 10:00 p.m. The clergy and faithful of the Vinnytsia Eparchy expressed deep sorrow over the tragic death of Archimandrite Job and asked the UOC faithful to pray for the repose of his soul.

Archimandrite Job, born Ivan Volodymyrovych Tsurkan, was born on October 4, 1962, in the village of Berezky-Bershadski in the Bershad district of the Vinnytsia region. From 1980 to 1983, the future priest served in the Navy. He graduated with honors from the Uman Technical School of Mechanization and later received his theological education at the Kyiv Theological Seminary.

Beginning in 1995, the future archimandrite carried out obediences at the Holy Spirit Skete of the Pochaiv Lavra. On July 12, 1996, the feast day of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, Bishop Innokentiy (Shestopal) of Tulchyn and Bratslav ordained him to the diaconate. After his ordination, he served at the Nativity of Christ Cathedral in Tulchyn and also carried out the obedience of driver for the eparchial administration.

On June 30, 2000, during the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in the village of Kholodivka, Tulchyn district, Bishop Ippolit ordained Father Job to the priesthood. On July 9 of the same year, Father Job was tonsured a monk with the name Job in honor of St. Job of Pochaiv. On August 4, he was appointed rector of the Dormition Church in the village of Pohrebyshche.

On May 9, 2016, the priest transferred to serve at the Church of St. Lawrence of Chernihiv in Vinnytsia. Before Holy Pascha in 2017, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine elevated Father Job to the rank of archimandrite.

By decree of Metropolitan Varsonofiy of Vinnytsia and Bar dated February 1, 2019, Archimandrite Job was appointed a staff priest at St. Tikhon Church in Vinnytsia, where he continued his pastoral ministry until his final day.

As the UOJ reported, the abbot of the Monastery of St. Gerasimos of the Jordan of the Jerusalem Patriarchate had reposed in the Lord.

Read also