UOC hierarch leads patronal feast at 170-year-old church in Sarniv

The community of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross Church in Sarniv. Photo: Khmelnytskyi Eparchy

On the Feast of the Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, Metropolitan Victor of Khmelnytskyi and Starokostiantyniv presided over the Divine Liturgy marking the patronal feast and 170th anniversary of the Exaltation of the Cross Church in the village of Sarniv, Volochysk Deanery, the Khmelnytskyi Eparchy reports.

Concelebrating with His Eminence were Archimandrite Makarii (Gruzdev), secretary of the eparchy; Archpriest Roman Tesliuk, dean of the Volochysk district; Archpriest Oleksandr Herasymchuk, rector of the church; and clergy of the deanery.

The liturgical hymns were sung by the choir of the Convent of the Mother of God “Life-Giving Spring,” directed by its abbess, Hegumenia Elizabeth (Vavriichuk).

At the Little Entrance, with the blessing of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine, Metropolitan Victor granted Archpriest Oleksandr Herasymchuk, rector of the church, the right to celebrate the Divine Liturgy with the Royal Doors open until the Cherubic Hymn.

Following the reading of the Holy Gospel, the hierarch delivered a sermon to the faithful. During the service, special prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine, for soldiers, and for all those left destitute or affected by the war.

At the conclusion of the Liturgy, a religious procession took place around the 170-year-old church. Metropolitan Victor then consecrated a newly erected outdoor cross in front of the church and congratulated the parish community on its patronal feast.

The hierarch concluded the celebrations by serving a memorial litany at the grave of the church’s former rector, Archpriest Volodymyr Herasymchuk.

As the UOJ previously reported, the 255th anniversary of the Intercession Church was celebrated in the village of Pyshky of the Khmelnytskyi Eparchy.

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