Dumenko: Coinciding with Vyshyvanka Day, Ascension took on a new mood

Advertisement for Dumenko’s service at the entrance to Mostyska. Photo: OCU

On May 21, 2026, OCU head Serhiy Dumenko published spiritual reflections on Facebook about the coincidence of the dates of the Ascension of the Lord and Vyshyvanka Day.

In his view, because of this, the feast of the Ascension “took on a special, unique mood – warm, native, Ukrainian, and bright.”

That day, Dumenko came to serve at the Ascension Church in Mostyska, Lviv region. After speaking with parishioners, the OCU head emphasized that the vyshyvanka is “sacred” clothing for Ukrainians.

“The large community, from young to old, was dressed in festive embroidered attire – not by compulsion, not as a tribute to fashion, but at the call of the heart. Because for us Ukrainians, the vyshyvanka is something native, unique, sacred; it is what unites us, brings us together, and inspires us,” Dumenko wrote.

He also spoke about the meaning of the Ascension of the Lord. According to the OCU head, although Christ ascended into heaven, He remains among us and “urges us to love our people and fight for good for them.”

“Now our people are suffering from Russian aggression and are forced to pay the price of the blood of their daughters and sons for freedom, for dignity, for a free future for present and future generations,” Dumenko said. “We believe that just as the godless Soviet tyranny fell, so too will this latest Russian empire of evil fall. As the Lord helped revive church life after years of state atheism, helped restore communities and build churches, so He will help revive Ukraine, wounded by Russian aggression, after peace is established.”

He also asked God “for victory over the bloody false teaching of the ‘Russian world,’ so that all Orthodox Christians in Ukraine may be forever freed from this spiritual yoke.”

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that Serhiy Dumenko called Christ’s words a proverb.

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