His Beatitude leads festivities of the 30th anniversary of Donetsk Eparchy

Festivities on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Donetsk Eparchy of the UOC in the Sviatogorsk Lavra. Photo: news.church.ua

On October 10, 2021, festivities dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the creation of the Donetsk diocese of the UOC and the 30th anniversary of the episcopal consecration of Metropolitan Hilarion of Donetsk and Mariupol, headed by the Primate of the UOC, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry, are being held in the Holy Dormition Sviatogorsk Lavra, according the Information Centre of the UOC.

Before the start of the worship, the Primate was solemnly greeted at the gate of the Lavra. His Beatitude Vladyka consecrated a new monument to the Primate of the UOC, His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir (Sabodan).

At the Divine Liturgy in the Dormition Cathedral of the monastery, the Primate was concelebrated by Metropolitan Agafangel of Odessa and Izmail, Metropolitan Hilarion of Donetsk and Mariupol, Metropolitan Pavel of Vyshgorod and Chornobyl, Archbishop Paisjusz of Przemyśl and Gorlice (Polish Orthodox Church), Archbishop Peter of Ungheni and Nisporeni (Orthodox Church of Moldova), metropolitans: Sergiy of Ternopil and Kremenets, Onufriy of Kharkiv and Bogodukhiv, Luke of Zaporizhia and Melitopol, Arseny of Sviatogorsk, Mitrofan of Gorlivka and Slavyansk, Elisey of Izium and Kupyansk, Feodor of Mukachevo and Uzhgorod, Panteleimon of Lugansk and Alchevsk, Nikodim of Severodonetsk and Starobelsk, Filaet of Lviv and Galicia; archbishops: Alipy of Krasnolimansk, Varnava of Makeyevka, Ephraim of Berdyansk and Primorsk, Bogolep of Alexandria and Svetlovodsk, Diodor of Yuzhnoye; bishops: Innokenty of Konotop and Glukhov, Veniamin of Khotyn, Victor of Baryshivka, Sylvester of Belogorodka, Spiridon of Dobropillia, Ambrose of Volnovakha, Pavel of Bolovodsk, Lavr of Irpen, Mark of Borodianka, Irinarkh of Novopskovsk, as well as guests in the priesthood. The abbesses of the nunneries of the UOC and numerous believers prayed during the service.

At the Small Entrance, on the occasion of the 70th birthday and 30th anniversary of the episcopal consecration of Metropolitan Hilarion, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry awarded him the right to present the cross during divine services.

After the dismissal, many years chant was performed. His Beatitude Vladyka congratulated Metropolitan Hilarion on his personal anniversaries and the 30th anniversary of the Donetsk Eparchy.

“These are beautiful numbers that speak of God's grace upon you, Your Eminence, and strengthening you in your ministry,” the Primate noted and wished the hierarch victory over trials and always be on the path of salvation.

“The main mission of the Donetsk diocese is that it has preserved its canonical unity. Both on the territory of Ukraine, and on the uncontrolled territory, the diocese remained – the Donetsk and Mariupol Ukrainian Orthodox Churches. In all the churches of Donetsk, Mariupol, Slaviansk, Horlivka, Lugansk, the Primate of our canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry, Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine, has always been mentioned and commemorated. This is not just the unity of the Church and the canonical diocesan borders, it is the unity of the people who did not split, with the Church having contributed to this” said Metropolitan Arseny, the abbot of the Sviatogorsk Lavra, at a briefing for journalists from central mass media.

On the eve of the Divine Liturgy, an all-night vigil was held Assumption Cathedral of the Sviatogorsk Lavra, which was led by the abbot of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, Metropolitan Pavel in concelebration with bishops and clergymen who had arrived from the dioceses of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

According to data for 2021, there are 430 clergymen, 472 communities, 372 parish churches, 31 monastic churches, 59 churches at secular institutions (education system, medical institutions), 6 houses of worship in the Donetsk Eparchy.

As the UOJ previously reported, Archbishop Peter, cell attendant of St. John of Shanghai, visited the Sviatogorsk Lavra.

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