St Ioann Pokhodenchyk glorified in Alexandria

The icon of St. Ioann Pokhodenchyk. Photo: Facebook of Metropolitan Antony

On November 25, the Chancellor of the UOC, Metropolitan Antony of Boryspil and Brovary, led the rite of glorification in the rank of saints of Blessed Ioann the Fool for Christ's sake at the Intercession Cathedral in Alexandria, Kirovohrad region. This was reported on Metropolitan Antony's Facebook page.

During the Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan Antony was concelebrated by Metropolitans: Ephraim of Kryvyi Rih and Nikopol, Alexy of Balta and Ananyiv, Volodymyr of Kamianske and Tsarychanka, Boholep of Alexandria and Svitlovodsk, Mykolay of Kirovohrad and Novomyrhorod; Archbishops Damian of Fastiv and Veniamin of Novosanzhary, as well as clergy of the Alexandrian Eparchy and guests in holy orders.

During the Liturgy, prayers were offered for peace in Ukrainian land.

Metropolitan Mykolay announced the decision of the Holy Synod of the UOC to establish the veneration of the saint, and Metropolitan Boholep read the life of the saint.

Metropolitan Antony blessed those present with the icon of the saint, after which St. Ioann was magnified.

At the conclusion of the service, the Chancellor of the UOC addressed those present with words of greeting and invoked God's blessing on all.

St Ioann Pokhodenchyk lived in the 19th–20th centuries. His childhood is hidden from history, it is only known that as an adult he came to the village of Ploske in the Kirovohrad region, presumably from the Cherkasy region.

Having accepted the feat of foolishness for Christ's sake by the grace of God, St. Ioann wandered through the villages without having his own home, urging people to keep the Orthodox faith, and for his asceticism, he received the popular name – Pokhodenchyk.

The martyrdom of the saint occurred on November 25, 1943: he was killed by German occupiers near the village of Ploske. Local peasants buried the righteous man in the village cemetery.

In May 2021, his holy relics were discovered and transferred to the Holy Epiphany Convent in the village of Dykovka. Healings began to occur through prayers at the relics.

As reported by the UOJ, on October 23, 2024, the Holy Synod of the UOC canonized St. Ioann Pokhodenchyk as a saint fool for Christ's sake. The memory of the new saint will be celebrated on November 25 according to the new style.

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