Clergy of Volyn Diocese congratulate persecuted communities on Christmas
The UOC community of Zvyniache village. Photo: pravoslavna.volyn.ua
With the blessing of Archbishop Nathanael of Volyn and Lutsk, clergymen of the Volyn Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church made a missionary trip to the parishes that suffered from the OCU to support and congratulate the faithful on the Nativity holiday. This is reported by Pravoslavna Volyn resource.
Thus, the vicar of the Volyn diocese, Bishop Athanasiy of Kamin-Kashirsky visited the persecuted communities in the villages of Bronytsaa, Krymne, Nuino, and Rakov Les.
A group of clergy, led by Archimandrite Paisiy (Khomich), toured parishes in the Horokhiv and Berestechko deaneries: in the villages of Ugryniv, Berezhanka, Shklyn, Myrne, Oschev, Zvyniache, Pirvanche, Shyroke, Berestechko, Peski and Smolyava.
Priests led by Hieromonk Kirill (Vydrych) visited parishes in Manevychi deanery (Hodomychi, Borovychi, Telchi, Nychohivka, Krasnovolia, Serkhiv, Horodok, Chetvertnia); communities in the villages of Stary Zahorov, Kholopychi, Ozeryany, Radomyshl, Novostav, Romaniv, Shepel, Vesele, Sadov and Nesvych, as well as Orthodox communities in the villages of Zhydychin, Klepachiv and Kulchyn.
A group of clergymen led by Archpriest Petro Baziuk visited the parishes of Kopachiv deanery – in the villages of Dorosyny, Trysten, Kvitneve, and Yasenivka.
The priests of the Volyn Eparchy conveyed to the faithful of the persecuted UOC communities Nativity greetings and words of support from the ruling bishop, sang carols and handed out sweet gifts.
"Despite the facts that people were deprived of their temples, parishes continue to exist and people continue to gather for prayer. There are a lot of children in each community, and this, God willing, is the key to the continued existence of these communities and their spiritual development. All people rejoiced at the greetings and with one heart and mouth, filled with love, were also singing Christmas carols," noted the press service of the Volyn diocese.
Earlier the UOJ wrote the UOC believers in Rakov Les village built a new church in 7 months to replace the seized one.
Read also
Shostatsky to UOC: If you are so righteous – do not cling to your churches
The OCU metropolitan called on UOC faithful and clergy to pray rather than defend their churches from seizures.
Archbishop John: The Church is not a special group – it is open to everyone
The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Albania explained why the Church cannot shut itself off from people and what danger arises when believers begin to feel that it is “ours.”
Shostatsky: We have a real personnel shortage in the OCU
Metropolitan Simeon (Shostatsky) said that OCU clerics have to travel to as many as five parishes over a weekend so that believers are not left without services.
At the Zimne Monastery, an event was held in support of families of fallen soldiers
The Holy Dormition Monastery in Volhynia hosted an event to support mothers and loved ones of servicemen killed in the war.
Great schema tonsure performed in Mohyliv-Podilskyi Eparchy
The rite of tonsure into the great schema at St. Paraskeva Church in Mohyliv-Podilskyi was performed by the secretary of the Vinnytsia Eparchy.
UOC’s Myltsi monastery brethren appeal to U.S. authorities for protection
The monks of the St. Nicholas Monastery in Volhynia are asking J.D. Vance and Anna Paulina Luna to defend their rights and help prevent their possible eviction.