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.

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