Primates of OCA and UOC celebrate the festive Divine Liturgy in Bancheny

Metropolitan Tikhon of All America and Canada and Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine in the Bancheny Monastery. Photo: news.church.ua

On June 2, 2024, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, and His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry, the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, performed a solemn service at the Ascension Bancheny Monastery of the Chernivtsi Eparchy of the UOC, as reported by the Information and Education Department of the UOC.

The Primates were concelebrated by Metropolitan Sergiy of Ternopil and Kremenets, Metropolitan Theodore of Kamianets-Podilskyi and Horodok, Metropolitan Meletiy of Chernivtsi and Bukovyna, Metropolitan Anthony of Boryspil and Brovary, Metropolitan Clement of Nizhyn and Pryluky, Metropolitan Longin of Bancheny, Metropolitan Yevseviy of Shepetivka and Slavuta, Archbishop Veniamin of Khotyn, Archbishop Victor of Khmelnytskyi and Starokostiantyniv, Archbishop Sylvester of Bilohorodka, Bishop Lavr of Irpin, Bishop Mark of Borodianka, Bishop Siluan of Hertsa, Bishop Kleopa of Novoselytsia, Bishop Nikita of Ivano-Frankivsk and Kolomyia, the clergy of the monastery, the Chernivtsi-Bukovynian Eparchy, and guests in the episcopal rank.

During the Liturgy, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon ordained Deacon Serhiy Hupka.

After the service, the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church expressed his joy over Metropolitan Tikhon's visit to Ukraine and their joint prayer. This prayer included a plea for the cessation of war in Ukraine. His Beatitude thanked the Primate of the Church in America and invoked God's blessing on his endeavors, life, and the entire American flock of the Orthodox Church. Subsequently, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry presented a commemorative gift to his distinguished guest.

Metropolitan Tikhon expressed his gratitude for the warm reception and acknowledged the spiritual life and social ministry of the Bancheny Monastery's brethren, which testify to the strength of the Orthodox faith.

On behalf of himself and the entire Orthodox Church in America, the Archbishop of Washington expressed support for His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and the Ukrainian people defending their state from Russian aggression.

Metropolitan Tikhon warmly recalled the visit of the Primate of the UOC to America several years ago and their interaction at St. Tikhon's Monastery in Pennsylvania.

The visit of the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America to Ukraine began on June 1 in Chernivtsi. His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon will also visit the Assumption Pochaiv Lavra, the Holy Spirit Skete, and monasteries in the Chernivtsi-Bukovynian Eparchy.

As the UOJ reported, Metropolitan Tikhon, in his speech at Bancheny Monastery, expressed deep appreciation for the attention and love shown by Ukrainian believers.

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