Metropolitan Meletiy prayerfully supports persecuted UOC parish in Vyzhenka

Metropolitan Meletiy led a service in the persecuted community of Vyzhenka. Photo: Chernivtsi Eparchy Facebook page

On May 10, 2026, the Sunday of the Samaritan Woman, Metropolitan Meletiy of Chernivtsi and Bukovyna visited the religious community of St. Nicholas in the village of Vyzhenka, the press service of the Chernivtsi Eparchy reported.

The archpastor came to support the faithful, who for two years have been deprived of the opportunity to pray in their own church. Because of the raider seizure of the shrine by OCU supporters, the community is forced to hold services in a specially equipped private building.

During the Liturgy, the hierarch and clergy offered prayers for peace in Ukraine, for deliverance from the enemy, and for God’s help to those who have lost their homes.

For his steadfastness in the faith and many years of service, the community’s rector, Archpriest Antoniy Fedorashchak, received a high Church award – a second cross with decorations. The bishop also awarded Priest Ioann Fedorashchak the palitsa.

After the service, the faithful held a procession with the cross, during which the Gospel was read and the people were sprinkled with holy water.

Recall that the church in Vyzhenka was taken from the UOC community by supporters of Epifaniy Dumenko’s structure in May 2024. Metropolitan Meletiy urged the parishioners not to lose hope and stressed that common prayer amid persecution is a great spiritual consolation for every faithful child of the Church.

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