Ukrainian parish of Serbian Church in Bosnia marks feast of Prince Volodymyr

Ukrainian community of the Serbian Orthodox Church celebrates the feast of Prince Volodymyr. Photo: UOJ

In Bosnia, a Ukrainian parish of the Serbian Orthodox Church celebrated the feast day of Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Volodymyr. The celebrations at the Church of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos were led by Archimandrite Platon (Jović), who presented the community with a particle of the relics of Hieromartyr Volodymyr, Metropolitan of Kyiv.

The festive service in the village of Hrvaćani was held on July 26, 2026, with the blessing of Metropolitan Jefrem of Banja Luka. The historic parish was founded in the early 20th century by Ukrainian missionary Protosyncellus Vasyl Strilchek, a native of the Ternopil region. Today, the community, made up of descendants of Ukrainian settlers, is served by Priest Petro Fihurek, a graduate of the Kyiv Theological Academy.

At the Liturgy, where the hymns were sung in the traditional Ukrainian chant, Orthodox Serbs and Ukrainian Greek Catholics prayed alongside members of the Ukrainian community.

During the celebrations, the clergy and faithful proclaimed many years to the Serbian and Ukrainian peoples, Serbian Patriarch Porfirije, Metropolitan Jefrem of Banja Luka, and His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine. With the blessing of the Serbian Church, the name of the UOC Primate has been commemorated in this church for more than a century, preserving the community’s unbroken connection with the Kyiv Metropolia.

In his sermon, Archimandrite Platon reminded the faithful of the self-sacrificing work of the mission’s founders and urged them to safeguard the rich spiritual heritage of their ancestors. After the service, the faithful took part in a cross procession around the church, carrying holy icons and the particle of the relics of Hieromartyr Volodymyr.

As previously reported by the UOJ, a Ukrainian monastery in Romania celebrated its patronal feast.

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