UOC hierarchs celebrate festive liturgy in Josaphat Valley

Podillia hierarchs celebrate the Liturgy in Josaphat Valley. Photo: Vinnytsia Eparchy

On August 15, 2026, the feast day commemorating the apparition of the Most Holy Theotokos in Josaphat Valley, Metropolitan Serhiy of Ternopil and Kremenets led a festive service at the Exaltation of the Cross Monastery located in the Valley of Crosses, the Vinnytsia Eparchy press service reports.

Metropolitan Serhiy celebrated the Divine Liturgy together with Metropolitan Agapit of Mohyliv-Podilskyi and Sharhorod, Metropolitan Varsonofiy of Vinnytsia and Bar, Metropolitan Victor of Khmelnytskyi and Starokostiantyniv, Metropolitan Serhiy of Tulchyn and Bratslav, as well as numerous clergy from the Kyiv, Bila Tserkva, Balta, Vinnytsia, Khmelnytskyi, Tulchyn, Mohyliv-Podilskyi, Ternopil, Chernivtsi, and other UOC eparchies.

During the service, the hierarchs and clergy prayed for peace in Ukraine, an end to the war, the preservation of life and strengthening of Ukrainian defenders, and asked for the intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos for the Ukrainian people.

After the Liturgy, Metropolitan Serhiy offered a prayer for the blessing of the crosses that pilgrims traditionally bring and erect in Josaphat Valley. The custom is linked to the words of the Mother of God, who, according to tradition, appeared to shepherds in the valley in 1923 and told them: “Glorify Christ, raise crosses!”

At the conclusion, Metropolitan Serhiy congratulated those present on the feast and wished them God’s help, spiritual joy, peace, and the special protection of the Most Holy Theotokos.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that thousands of faithful took part in services at St. Anna Convent.

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