Metropolitan Pimen serves Liturgy in Khorov home after seizure

Metropolitan Pimen during the service in the village of Khorov, September 7, 2025. Photo: Press Service of the Rivne Eparchy of the UOC

On September 7, 2025, Metropolitan Pimen of Rivne and Ostroh celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the village of Khorov, Rivne region, according to the press service of the Rivne Eparchy of the UOC.

The metropolitan presided at the service in the church dedicated to St. Paisios of the Holy Mountain. Concelebrating with His Eminence was the parish rector, Fr. Heorhii Diska.

Prayers were lifted up during the Liturgy for the cessation of the war, for peace in Ukraine, and for the soldiers defending their homeland.

In his archpastoral address, the hierarch reminded the faithful that the local religious community had been forced to leave their native church due to interconfessional conflict and now gathers for prayer in a modest home donated by one of the parishioners. He urged the faithful not to fall into despondency but to remember the power of unity in Christ.

The archpastor also drew attention to the day’s Gospel reading – the Parable of the Wicked Tenants (Matthew 21:33–46): “The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes.”

At the conclusion of the service, the metropolitan blessed the faithful and wished the community steadfastness in faith, peace, and harmony.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that Metropolitan Pimen had visited communities whose churches had been taken away by the OCU.

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