Antiochian Church bishop comes “within the bounds of the Donetsk Eparchy”

Bishop Dimitry of Safita (in the center) in Mariupol. Photo: Alexander Ivanov

On May 8, 2025, Bishop Dimitry of Safita of the Antiochian Church arrived on a visit to the "territory of the Donetsk Eparchy", reports the Moscow Patriarchate's website.

The Antiochian hierarch, "with the blessing of Patriarch Kirill", visited churches in the occupied Mariupol along with the newly appointed Metropolitan Vladimir of Donetsk and Mariupol from the ROC.

It is reported that Bishop Dimitry of Safita visited the rebuilt Assumption and Transfiguration Churches, which were completely destroyed, as well as the St Nicholas Cathedral.

The text says that “the ruling bishop introduced the vicar of the Akkar Metropolis to the life of Orthodox Christians in the Donbass, the peculiarities of church life in the conditions of hostilities, and also spoke about the revival of shrines destroyed by war.” The hierarchs were accompanied by representatives of the "DPR government".

Earlier, the UOJ analyzed why the ROC Synod's removal of Donetsk Metropolitan Hilarion in October 2024 violated canonical norms.

Read also

National Memory Institute and SBU open exhibition on UGCC liquidation

An exhibition on the repression of the Uniates has opened in the capital, while state officials search for historical parallels with the present day.

OCU "priest" “allows” parishioners to use priest’s cassock for sex games

Ruslan Usmedinsky said that using a priest’s cassock as a prop for role-playing games can strengthen relationships between couples.

Priest charged with desertion freed after faithful raise bail

Archpriest Vitaliy Agafonov, a cleric of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, has been released after bail was posted with funds raised by the faithful.

UOC clergy and laity from several eparchies donate blood for wounded soldiers

Clergy and Orthodox youth of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church donated blood for wounded military personnel.

UOC faithful in Kozelshchansk hold procession with icon of the Mother of God

Pilgrims and clergy of the Poltava Eparchy prayed at the Kozelshchansk Monastery and took part in a procession around the church with the wonderworking icon.

Hearing in Metropolitan Theodosiy’s сase postponed after “victim” no-show

A scheduled hearing at the Kyiv-Sviatoshyn Court in the case against the ruling bishop of the Cherkasy Eparchy was postponed after OCU chaplain Nazariy Zasansky failed to appear.