Persecuted UOC community in Panka marks patronal feast in adapted premises

The persecuted UIC community of Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica in Panka celebrated its patronal feast in adapted premises.

The persecuted UOC community of the Holy Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica in the village of Panka, Storozhynets Deanery, celebrated its patronal feast for the second time in premises adapted for church services outside its native church, report believers of the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Eparchy of the UOC on Facebook.

The clergy of the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Eparchy arrived to share the joy of the celebration with the community's rector, Archpriest Volodymyr Martynyshyn. During the festive service, the faithful offered up prayers to the Lord together, asking for peace for Ukraine, strengthening in trials, protection and help.

At the end, the rector thanked the clergy and parishioners for their joint prayer and the spiritual joy they shared on the day of the patronal feast.

We recall that on April 5, 2025, representatives of the OCU led by Roman Hryshchuk seized the Church of St. Demetrius in the village of Panka. The seizure took place despite the unanimous decision of the parishioners, who had earlier voted at a general meeting of the community to remain faithful to the UOC. At the same time, a separate OCU Holy Dormition Church was already operating in Panka, yet visiting activists with no connection to the village still took the community's only shrine away.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the persecuted UOC community in Nahoriany celebrated its patronal feast in makeshift premises.