In Kherson, UOC faithful commemorate region's patron St. Barsanuphius

The relics of St. Barsanuphius rest in the Holy Spirit Cathedral of Kherson. Photo: Kherson Eparchy

On October 17, 2025, on the day of commemoration of St. Barsanuphius of Kherson, the Confessor, a festive service was held at the Holy Spirit Cathedral of the Kherson Eparchy of the UOC in honor of the heavenly patron of the region. This was reported by the eparchy's press service.

The Divine Liturgy was led by Metropolitan Ioann of Kherson and Taurida, with the clergy of the diocese concelebrating.

During the fervent litany, prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine and the cessation of military actions in the Kherson region.

At the end of the service, Metropolitan Ioann congratulated everyone on the feast and wished that, following the example of the Confessor of the Kherson region, all would remain faithful to Orthodoxy and the Holy Church of Christ.

After the festive service, a charitable meal was organized on the cathedral grounds to commemorate the region's heavenly patron.

The eparchy especially thanked the rector, Archpriest Vitaliy, and the parishioners of the Nicholas Church in the city of Dnipro for the food they collected for the feast.

St. Barsanuphius (in the world Vasiliy Yurchenko) was born on August 18, 1883, in the village of Lozuvatka, Kherson province. In 1916, he took monastic vows with the name Barsanuphius and then dedicated himself to fighting renovationism. For his faith, he was repeatedly arrested, held in harsh conditions of prisons and camps, but never renounced prayer and spiritual steadfastness. He peacefully passed away on October 17, 1954, after confession and communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ. The relics of Venerable Barsanuphius were uncovered on March 28, 2007, and now rest in the Holy Spirit Cathedral of Kherson.

As reported by the UOJ, on March 28, 2025, on the 18th anniversary of the uncovering of the relics of the heavenly patron and protector of the Kherson land, St. Barsanuphius, services were held at the Transfiguration Church of the Holy Spirit Cathedral.

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