UOC priest of Odesa Eparchy released from TRC
Archpriest Oleksandr Moskovchuk. Photo: a video screenshot of the Odesa Eparchy
On June 15, 2025, Archpriest Oleksandr Moskovchuk, rector of the Holy Trinity Church of the UOC in the village of Troyandove, was released from the Territorial Recruitment Center (TRC) in the Odesa Region, where he had been detained since June 10. The press service published a video message from the priest.
Father Oleksandr thanked all the clergy and parishioners for their prayers, and the lawyers for their professional assistance.
"I am happy to have returned to my native church and can continue to pray for peace in our country. My deepest gratitude to everyone," said Fr. Oleksandr Moskovchuk.
As the UOJ reported, the Odesa Eparchy stated that despite his age and poor health, the canonical prohibition on bearing arms, and the legal grounds preventing his mobilization, the clergyman had been pressured to sign a military service contract. He was being subjected to threats and psychological coercion, and transported between various TRC offices and military units across Odesa Region and Ukraine.
Read also
Greece signs memorandum on protection of Jerusalem Patriarchate's shrines
Next week, the Greek Parliament will ratify a document on the protection of the cultural heritage of the Jerusalem Patriarchate.
Greek bishop calls imposition of same-sex marriage a threat
Metropolitan Seraphim of Kythera urged families to become a “domestic church” amid threats to the Christian family in Greek laws and school curricula.
Patriarch Bartholomew arrives in Budapest for opening of Orthodox center
The Ecumenical Patriarch has arrived in Hungary, where he will preside over the consecration of the Orthodox center "Phanarion."
OCU raiders stage attack on seized church in Kyiv, media
OCU "hierarch" Serhiy Horobtsov published a provocative post online regarding St. John's Church in Bykivnia seized by his people.