Kyiv Caves Lavra and Khmelnytskyi Eparchy commemorate deceased UOC Primate

Memorial service for Metropolitan Volodymyr (Sabodan) at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. Photo: Lavra's website

On November 23, 2025, on the 90th anniversary of of the deceased Metropolitan Volodymyr (Sabodan), memorial services were held at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and in the Khmelnytskyi Eparchy, reports the UOC press service.

The Divine Liturgy at the Academic Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos at the Far Caves of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra was performed by the rector of the Kyiv Theological Schools, Archbishop Sylvester (Stoychev), together with the brethren in holy orders. After the Liturgy, the clergy served a memorial service at the grave of the ever-memorable Primate and laid flowers.

Memorial services were also held in the village of Markivtsi, Khmelnytskyi region, where the future Primate was born. The Liturgy at St. Michael's Church was led by Metropolitan Viktor (Kotsaba) of Khmelnytskyi and Starokostiantyniv. He was co-served by Metropolitan Varsonofiy of Vinnytsia and Bar, Metropolitan Oleksiy of Voznesensk, Archbishops Oleksandr of Horodnytsia and Dionisiy of Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi, and the clergy from various eparchies.

Metropolitan Volodymyr (Sabodan) led the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) from 1992 to 2014, making a significant contribution to the revival of spiritual education and the strengthening of church unity.

As reported by the UOJ, in Stavchany, a UOC hierarch consecrated a house chapel after the church seizure. 

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