Metropolitan Onuphry consecrates Annunciation Church in Bukovyna village of Ostrytsia

Metropolitan Onuphry in the village of Ostrytsia. Photo: UOJ

On September 6, 2026, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry performed the rite of great consecration of the Church of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos in the village of Ostrytsia, in the Hertsa Deanery of the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The church was built through the efforts of Metropolitan Longin of Bancheny and the brethren of the Bancheny Monastery, a UOJ correspondent reports.

Thousands of faithful gathered for the solemn service in the newly consecrated church. After the consecration rite, the Primate celebrated the Divine Liturgy. Concelebrating with him were Metropolitan Volodymyr of Pochaiv, Metropolitan Longin of Bancheny, Metropolitan Eusebius of Shepetivka and Slavuta, Archbishop Mark of Borodianka, Archbishop Siluan of Hertsa, Archbishop Kleopa of Novoselytsia, Bishop Theodosiy of Horodyshche, Bishop Nikita of Ivano-Frankivsk and Kolomyia, as well as clergy of the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Eparchy, the Bancheny Monastery, and visiting clergy.

During the service, prayers were offered for peace in the Ukrainian land and deliverance from the enemy, that the Lord might grant wisdom to the authorities, strengthen the soldiers with courage, free the captives, heal the sick, and provide shelter for those who have lost their homes. After the dismissal, Metropolitan Onuphry congratulated the faithful on the consecration of the church and sprinkled those present with holy water.

As the UOJ previously reported, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry consecrated a church in the city of Vyshneve. The Primate regularly performs rites of great consecration at newly built churches in various UOC eparchies, paying particular attention to communities affected by the war or in need of spiritual support.

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