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
DESS congratulates Ukrainians on Passover
DESS has published an address in which it compared the biblical Exodus with the modern path of the people toward freedom and peace.
Amsterdam: Zelensky attacks UOC because he doesn't tolerate idependent thought
An international human rights defender stated that the Kyiv authorities are pursuing the goal of turning religion into a government department.
In Jerusalem, Jewish believers banned from visiting Western Wall during Passover
Israeli police announced restrictions for Jewish holidays.
OCU: Filaret did not want UOC-KP to exist after his death
The OCU insists that Filaret wanted the Kyiv Patriarchate to cease to exist after his death.
UOC primate blesses vehicles for evacuating the wounded from the front
His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry performed the rite of blessing for nine vehicles purchased with donations from faithful in Ukraine and the Czech Republic.
Lawyer warns of planned seizure of UOC Ascension Church in Kyiv
The head of the religious community of the Holy Ascension Church in Demiivka has been unlawfully replaced, according to a lawyer.