Metropolitan Longin Led the Patronal Feast at the Skete of the Banchensky Monastery

On August 19, 2026, Metropolitan Longin of Banchensky led the festal divine service at the skete of the Banchensky Monastery on the occasion of the patronal feast – the Transfiguration of the Lord. This was reported by a correspondent of the SPJ.

His Grace Longin was co-served by Metropolitan Evseviy of Shepetivka and Slavuta, Archbishop Silouan of Hertsaiv, Archbishop Kleopa of Novoselytsia, Bishop Nikita of Ivano-Frankivsk and Kolomyia, Bishop Filaret of Căpriana (Moldovan Orthodox Church), the clergy of the diocese, and guests in holy orders.

More than a thousand faithful gathered for the festal divine service.

The skete in honor of the Transfiguration of the Lord is a closed-type skete, which may be visited only by the monks of the Ascension Monastery. Only once a year, on the day of the patronal feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, all those wishing to pray are admitted onto the grounds of the skete. The skete is opened on the eve of the feast before the beginning of the evening divine service and remains open throughout the night and the following day – the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord – allowing people the opportunity to venerate the shrines of the monastery.

During the Liturgy, the hierarchs and clergy prayed for peace on Ukrainian soil, for deliverance from the enemy, that the Lord would have mercy upon the people and preserve those who are in despair and have lost their homes, and also that the Lord would bless people of good will who help those in need.

At the conclusion of the divine service, Metropolitan Longin congratulated the faithful on the great feast – the Transfiguration of the Lord – and delivered words of instruction.

After the post-communion prayer, a blessing of grapes, apples, and other fruits was performed.

The faithful present then congratulated Metropolitan Longin on his birthday.

As the SPJ previously reported, on the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, His Beatitude Onufriy led the Liturgy at the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra and blessed the fruits of the new harvest.