Oldest church in Kyiv celebrates its patronal feast

The parish of Kyiv’s oldest church celebrates its patronal feast. Photo: Khmelnytskyi Eparchy

Metropolitan Victor of Khmelnytskyi and Starokostiantyniv led the patronal feast celebrations at St. Elijah Church in Kyiv. The festive Divine Liturgy on August 2 was attended by numerous faithful and members of the capital’s clergy, the UOC Information Center reports.

Concelebrating with the hierarch were Archbishop Spiridon of Vyshneve, a vicar of the Kyiv Metropolia; Archpriest Vitaliy Kosovskyi, rector of the church; and Archimandrite Antoniy (Oliferovych), spiritual father of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.

Special prayers were offered during the service for Ukraine’s defenders, for peace in the country, and for all those affected by the war.

After the service, Metropolitan Victor conveyed greetings to the parish on behalf of the Primate of the UOC, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry. The hierarch also offered special congratulations to the rector, Fr. Vitaliy, who has served at St. Elijah Church for 35 years.

St. Elijah Church is regarded as the first Christian church in Kyiv. According to Church tradition, it was built before the Baptism of Rus in 988.

As the UOJ previously reported, the oldest UOC church in Sumy also celebrated its patronal feast.

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