Church consecrated in Pochaiv Icon of the Mother of God Complex in Kovel

Consecration of the Church in Honor of St. Sergius in Kovel. Photo: Volodymyr-Volynsky Eparchy

On May 8, 2025, Metropolitan Volodymyr of Volodymyr-Volynsky and Kovel consecrated the Church in honor of St. Sergius on the grounds of the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God Church Complex of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) in Kovel, Volyn. This was reported by the diocesan press service.

The archbishop was accompanied by clergy of the Kovel district, led by the dean, Archpriest Volodymyr Rovinsky, who is also the rector of the church.

After the consecration ceremony, the first Divine Liturgy was celebrated on the newly consecrated altar.

During the service, Metropolitan Volodymyr awarded Archpriest Vitaliy Popko with a second pectoral cross adorned with decorations, and Priest Vasyl Hlushak with a gold pectoral cross.

At the end of the service, the UOC hierarch congratulated the clergy and the community on the consecration of the church.

By the blessing of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry, Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the rector of the parish, Archpriest Volodymyr Rovinsky, was awarded the Church Order of Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Volodymyr, and Matushka Kateryna Rovinska received the Order of the Pochaiv Icon of the Mother of God.

The senior sister of the church community, Halyna Yahodinets, was awarded the Order of St. Righteous Anna on the occasion of her 70th birthday.

"The celebration continued with a relaxed and friendly gathering over a modest brotherly meal in the church garden. According to tradition, Divine Liturgies will be celebrated daily for seven days in the newly consecrated Church of St. Sergius," the statement reads.

As previously reported by UOJ, the court has set a new date for the eviction of the UOC community from the cathedral in Volodymyr.

Read also

Most Britons oppose abortions, poll finds

The survey found that 62% of UK residents support legal protection for unborn children from the moment their heartbeat is first detected.

Annual academic conference opens at Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary

The fifteenth annual conference was dedicated to the anniversaries of Prince Vasyl-Kostiantyn Ostrožský and Metropolitan Rafail (Zaborovský).

Feminists attack Roman Catholic churches in Latin America

During protest actions, members of radical groups attacked cathedrals in several Latin American countries, assaulted police officers, and threw paint at believers.

UOC hierarch takes part in German bishops’ conference

Bishop Veniamin of Boyarka took part in the OBKD assembly in Düsseldorf.

Ivano-Frankivsk scraps school project planned on demolished UOC church site

The authorities in Ivano-Frankivsk have dropped plans to build the school for whose construction a UOC church was demolished.

Shostatsky to UOC: If you are so righteous – do not cling to your churches

The OCU metropolitan called on UOC faithful and clergy to pray rather than defend their churches from seizures.