Overflowing temples: overseas parishes of UOC in Ireland celebrate Easter

Bishop Veniamin of Boyarka, Chancellor of the Western European Vicariate of the UOC. Photo: Tg-channel of the UOC in Ireland

Festive services at overseas parishes of the UOC in Ireland this year were attended by hundreds of Ukrainian Orthodox believers. Photos, videos of the services, and their impressions were published by the faithful in the Telegram channel 'UOC in Ireland'.

On the night of May 4-5, 2024, on the Feast of the Bright Resurrection of Christ, the head of the Western European vicariate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Bishop Veniamin of Boyarka, led the service at the UOC parish in honor of the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos 'Quick to Hear' in the city of Killarney.

The bishop was concelebrated by Archpriest Vladimir Golovakov, Archpriest Vitaliy Svirid, and Deacon Viktor Palazhchenko, with two choirs singing liturgical hymns on that day.

The solemn service began with the Midnight Office, at midnight the bishop, together with the clergy and the faithful, made a cross procession around the temple. After the Paschal Matins, Bishop Veniamin celebrated the Paschal Liturgy.

"According to the special Easter tradition, the Gospel passage was read in several languages – Church Slavonic, Ukrainian, and English. During the Liturgy, special requests and prayers were traditionally offered for peace in Ukraine, for the Ukrainian authorities, soldiers, and displaced persons," the message said.

As seen in photos and videos from the service, hundreds of believers came to pray in the temple on this night.

"Thank you very much for such a wonderful service in Killarney! For a while, we felt like we were in our glorious Ukraine," wrote Tatiana.

In the Easter night, the festive service was held in Dublin.

"Congratulations on the Bright Resurrection of Christ from the Dublin parish of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The first All-Night Vigil, filled with special awe. The procession and the All-Night Vigil mentally brought us back to peaceful times in Ukraine. The Paschal joy filled hearts with peace, and the festive hymns about the Risen Lord warmed the soul. The large number of people added a special prayerful uplift. Almost everyone approached the Sacrament of Communion," said Yulia.

Several hundred believers came to the service on the day of the Resurrection of the Lord in Letterkenny.

Those who have been in Ireland since the beginning of the war said that last year there were about 30 people at the service. A year later, more and more people began to learn about the existence of the UOC Orthodox parish in the city. The festive service gathered believers from all over County Donegal.

Father Alexy thanked everyone for their prayers after the end of the service and said that it was particularly joyful that so many Christians remembered Christ and came to celebrate His Resurrection in the temple.

In all the temples, the Paschal Message of the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry, was read to the faithful.

The rector of the Dublin parish, Father John, thanked everyone who had come to the service and emphasized that despite the thousands of kilometers that separate the believers from their families and homes, the Paschal joy filled their hearts with peace.

After the liturgy, on the territory of the temples provided to the Orthodox by local Catholic communities, clergy, proclaiming "Christ is Risen!", blessed the Easter baskets of the faithful.

"This is my first Easter in Ireland. To say that it is special is an understatement. I think all the displaced persons have discovered a lot of new things in their "new" life abroad. Celebrating Easter and everything associated with it also falls under these new impressions. Here, abroad, any of our actions require additional efforts. Everything usual for locals is unusual for us. And I was very pleased to see the results of these human efforts in one small example – the Easter service. There were a lot of people. The temple was full. The people of God gathered here from everywhere. Gathered to glorify the Risen Christ. And that's great. It is very inspiring and supportive!" shared Victor.

After the services, there were communal festive meals, warm conversations, adorned with the singing of Paschal hymns and Ukrainian songs.

"The Church unites people. Unity, like in a family. Truly Christ is Risen!" added Yulia.

As reported by the UOJ, the Primate of the UOC officiated the Easter service at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.

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