Prayers offered for victims of shelling in destroyed UOC church, Kryvyi Rih

The UOC church in the name of Saint Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen in Kryvyi Rih. Photo: Kryvyi Rih Eparchy

On January 9, 2026, the feast day of the Holy Protomartyr Archdeacon Stephen, Metropolitan Ephraim of Kryvyi Rih and Nikopol made an archpastoral visit to the namesake church in Kryvyi Rih, which is still being restored after a missile strike carried out on February 22 of last year. According to the press service of the Kryvyi Rih Eparchy, within the walls of the damaged shrine, the archpastor offered prayers for the victims of the city’s shelling.

Concelebrating with the metropolitan at the Divine Liturgy were Archpriest Viktor Simoniuk, secretary of the Kryvyi Rih Diocese; Archpriest Anatoliy Ryzhenko, dean of the Central City Deanery; Archpriest Heorhiy Bazylevskyi (Bozhko), dean of the Northern City Deanery; as well as diocesan clergy.

During the augmented litany, which was chanted in the church that had suffered a missile strike, prayers were offered with particular fervor for the long-awaited coming of peace on Ukrainian soil and for the well-being of the long-suffering people.

At the memorial litany, Metropolitan Ephraim prayed for the repose of the souls of those killed in the missile attacks on Kryvyi Rih, as well as soldiers and civilians, and all Orthodox Christians who have reposed from ages past.

The service concluded with greetings from the pupils of the parish Sunday school at the feast-day church. They presented a Nativity play and sang Christmas carols, congratulating the parishioners on the feast of the Nativity of Christ.

As the UOJ reported, on February 22, 2025, as a result of shelling of Kryvyi Rih, the UOC Church of the Holy Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen was destroyed.

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