Synod of UOC names landmark events of 2021

A meeting of the Holy Synod of the UOC. Photo: news.church.ua

The Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church summarized the year 2021 at its meeting, reports the UOC Information and Education Department.

“In the past year, the most significant events in the life of our Church were: the Congress of representatives of the seized churches of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the Congress of monasticism of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the celebration of the anniversary of the Baptism of Rus’ and the International Scientific Conference dedicated to the theological and canonical comprehension of the principle of the catholicity of the Church and the issue of primacy among the Local Orthodox Churches,” the message says.

The Synod noted that the Church actively performed social service, despite the difficult socio-economic situation. Aid was received by: 182 geriatric centres, 168 boarding schools, 1,800 large families; 204 points were organized for the homeless for the daily distribution of hot meals. The total amount of assistance in all areas of social work in 2021 amounted to about 30 million hryvnias.

The head of the UOC, Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanich) of Boryspil and Brovary said that in the outgoing year the number of religious communities in the Church has increased (12,381 – seven more than in 2020), the clergy (plus 57, total – 12,513) and monks (plus 82, total – 4630). Also, in 2021, 5 monastic monasteries were created in Mohyliv-Podilskyi, Chernivtsi-Bukovyna, Lviv, Bila Tserkva and Mukachevo eparchies, and now there are 260 monasteries in the UOC.

Also, in the outgoing year, there was the glorification of ancient and new icons of the Mother of God and the establishment of their celebration. The celebration of the Icon of the Mother of God "Vladimirskaya-Desyatinnaya" and the name of St. John the Bare-Footed (Rastorguev), fool for Christ’s sake, were added to the church calendar of the UOC. 11 names joined the list of the locally revered saints of the UOC.

At the meeting, the Synod approved the annual Day of Prayer for Orphans – September 30, and petitions at litanies and prayers, which are published on the website of the UOC Information and Education Department.

The UOJ wrote that the UOC Synod decided to publish the Bible in Ukrainian.

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