UOC holds memorial services on Day of Remembrance of Defenders of Ukraine

Archbishop Sylvester performing a requiem litia for the fallen defenders of Ukraine. Photo: news.church.ua

On August 29, 2023, on the Day of Remembrance of the Defenders of Ukraine who died in the struggle for the country's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, clergymen from many eparchies of the UOC conducted memorial services, reports the UOC Information and Education Department.

In Kyiv, at the Memorial Wall for the fallen warriors on the premises of the Academic Church of the Resurrection of Christ, Archbishop Sylvester of Bilohorodka performed a requiem litia. The Archbishop was assisted by the First Vice-Rector of the Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary and the rector of the Church, Archpriest Sergiy Yushchik.

Following the service, the clergy placed flowers at the Memorial Wall.

As reported by the press service of the Zaporizhzhia Eparchy of the UOC, with the blessing of Metropolitan Luke (Kovalenko) of Zaporizhzhia and Melitopol, priests served a memorial service at the graves of the fallen soldiers in the regional cemetery. A requiem litia was also performed for Bishop Luke's brother, Oleksandr Kovalenko. He was a serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and died on April 17, 2022.

According to the information from the press service of the Mukachevo Eparchy, at the Mukachevo cemetery, where the defenders of Ukraine are buried, the secretary of the eparchial administration, Archpriest Viktor Miso, concelebrated by the clergy, officiated the requiem service with the blessing of the ruling hierarch, Metropolitan Theodore.

Memorial services also took place in other parishes of the eparchy.

The Volodymyr-Volynsky Eparchy also reported on the prayerful commemoration of the fallen defenders of Ukraine. Specifically, the parish rector, Archpriest Oleh Symonovych, performed the litia at the Transfiguration Church of Stara Vyzhevka.

The Information and Education Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church notes that requiem services on the Day of Remembrance of the Defenders of Ukraine were also conducted in other eparchies of the UOC.

As previously reported, on August 29, 2023, in the village of Ivanychi in the Volyn region, a Ukrainian serviceman named Oleksandr Marhita was buried – the son of the UOC parish priest of the villages of Hrybovytsia and Topilyshche, Archpriest Ihor Marhita.

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