Sergei Litovchenko, pastor of the Horlivka Seventh-day Adventist Church in eastern Ukraine, has been released and is being reunited with his family after 20 days of detention.

Local Adventist Church and family members would like to thank Adventists and others who have prayed for his freedom throughout the ordeal.

“We are very happy to know that Pastor Litovchenko is in good health” said Garrett Caldwell, spokesman for the Seventh-day Adventist Church. “We must continue to work and pray for the safety and security of our clergy and for believers who are in any area of conflict around the world.”

Litovchenko was detained on September 27 when a worship service was interrupted and churchgoers were directed to disburse. Unidentified men carrying machine guns and wearing camouflage burst into the Horlivka Adventist church and seized Pastor Litovchenko, the Ukrainian Union Conference reported.