Met. Serhiy of Tulchyn prays with persecuted UOC community in Novozhyvotiv
UOC Church of the Intercession in Novozhyvotiv. Photo: Metropolitan Serhiy of Tulchyn
On July 26, 2026, the Eighth Sunday after Pentecost and the feast of the Synaxis of the Archangel Gabriel, Metropolitan Serhiy of Tulchyn and Bratslav celebrated the Divine Liturgy with the community of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the village of Novozhyvotiv, Vinnytsia Region, which has been without its church for a considerable time. The bishop reported this on his Facebook page.
The service was held in a converted space where the parishioners of the UOC Church of the Intercession are now forced to pray. Concelebrating with the hierarch were the parish rector, Archpriest Petro Monastyrskyi, and clergy of the Orativ Deanery.
Special prayers for peace in Ukraine were offered during the Liturgy. At the end of the service, Metropolitan Serhiy congratulated the faithful on the feast.
As previously reported by the UOJ, in February 2025, supporters of the OCU seized the Church of the Intercession in Novozhyvotiv. The Orthodox community was then forced to hold services in a small prayer space near the church. It was later destroyed, and the parish rector, Archpriest Petro Monastyrskyi, was attacked. Since then, the community has continued its liturgical life in a converted space.
Read also
UOC's Sign Church damaged in Kherson air strike
In Kherson, Russian airstrikes shatter windows and damage the façade of the UOC’s Church of the Sign.
Yelensky: Not recognizing OCU means indirectly denying Ukrainian statehood
Viktor Yelensky believes that Local Churches that do not recognize the OCU thereby indirectly fail to recognize Ukrainian statehood as well.
UOC Lavra priest urges believers to accept hardships with gratitude
Archpriest Heorhiy Boyko at the prayer vigil near the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra recalled the sufferings of Great Martyr George the Victorious.
UOC honors patron saint of Kherson land
A Divine service was held at the Holy Spirit Cathedral of Kherson on feast day of St. Barsanuphius of Kherson.
Nativity of John the Baptist Church of UOC damaged by shelling in Kharkiv
A church of the Kharkiv Eparchy (UOC) was damaged during another shelling.
Patriarch Bartholomew not to concelebrate with Bulgarian Church Primate
The Ecumenical Patriarch will attend the service at St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia as a guest.