Displaced UOC community celebrates patronal feast in makeshift church

Orthodox believers in Sarata, Odesa region, who lost their church in 2019, continue to hold services and maintain an active parish life.

On October 14, 2026, the feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos, the community of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church’s Holy Protection Church in Sarata, Odesa region, celebrated its patronal feast, according to the UOC’s Odesa Eparchy.

The faithful lost their church in 2019 but have continued to gather for prayer and hold regular services in a makeshift worship space.

Before the festive service, a prayer service with the blessing of water was held. Archpriest Mykola Kostov, dean of the Sarata district, presided over the Divine Liturgy and led a cross procession.

Following the service, a festive charity meal was organized for parishioners and guests. The proceeds will go toward supporting the brethren of the Holy Dormition Sviatohirsk Lavra. Thus, despite having lost their own church, the community continues to help the monastery.

In January 2019, OCU supporters seized the Holy Dormition Church in Sarata. In April of that year, the UOC community established a temporary place of worship to replace its Holy Protection Church.

The UOJ later reported that the rector of the Sarata church seized by the OCU had reposed in the Lord.