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.
Read also
UCCRO complains to DESS about shortage of state registrars for communities
UCCRO members discussed with DESS ways to improve cooperation between the authorities and religious organizations.
Marynivka Protection Monastery monks extinguish fire in neighboring village
The brotherhood of the Protection Monastery used its own fire truck to save an outbuilding attached to a home in the village of Severynivka from the flames.
Met. Theodosiy: Patriarch Bartholomew’s decision led to persecution of UOC
The UOC hierarch said the Ecumenical Patriarch ignored the will of Ukraine’s Orthodox faithful when creating the OCU.
Biletsky: There has never been a Russian soldier in Sviatohirsk
The Azov commander said there have never been Russian troops in Sviatohirsk and that, overall, “everything is fine” in the city.
Met. Theodosiy: I believe slain Sviatohirsk monk joined ranks of martyrs
Metropolitan Theodosiy said that being a UOC priest or monk in Ukraine is now life-threatening.
In Dashkivtsi, OCU cleric and police cut locks and seize UOC church
OCU supporters seized a UOC church in the Khmelnytskyi Eparchy using falsified documents.