Bishops of UOC take part in a festive divine service in Belarus

Divine Liturgy Privolny town of the Republic of Belarus. Photo: news.church.ua

May 22, 2021, with the blessing of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine, Archbishop Alexei of Voznesensk and Pervomaisk, vicars of the Kyiv Metropolis, Bishops Victor of Baryshivka and Dionysy of Pereyaslav-Khmelnitsky, took part in the festive Divine Liturgy on the occasion of the patronal feast day of St. Nicholas in Privolny town of the Minsk region of the Republic of Belarus, the Information and Educational Department of the UOC reports.

The service was officiated by Metropolitan Veniamin of Minsk and Zaslavl’, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus, who was also concelebrated by the bishops of the Belarusian Orthodox Church Anthony of Slutsk and Soligorsk and Porfiry of Lida and Smorgon, Archpriest Viktor Ivashchuk, secretary of the Kyiv diocese in Kyiv, Anatoliy Ivashchuk, rector of the temple, and the clergy of the Kyiv and Minsk dioceses.

At the end of the service, Bishop Victor of Baryshevka in his speech extended warm congratulations from the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to Metropolitan Veniamin of Minsk and Zaslavl’ and presented the holy panagia on behalf of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine. In response, Metropolitan Veniamin conveyed to His Beatitude mutual congratulations and words of fraternal support.

Also, Bishop Victor presented the St. Demetrius Order of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to the rector of the church, Archpriest Anatoly Ivashchuk, on the occasion of his 45th birthday.

Earlier, the delegation of the UOC, headed by Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanich), congratulated the Primate of the Serbian Church on the election of the Serbian Primate to the First-Hierarch Throne of Serbia.

Read also

In Ukraine, Trump’s 'spiritual advisor' reassured of religious freedom

Pastor Mark Burns stated that Ukraine, despite the war, is a "beacon of religious freedom."

Lavra brethren congratulate Metropolitan Pavel on 31 years as abbot

The monks of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra have expressed hope that they will soon be able to pray again with their abbot.

Amsterdam: Intrusion into Lavra Caves – a return to Soviet-era persecution

International lawyer Robert Amsterdam has condemned the actions of Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture regarding the inspection of holy relics in the Caves of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, calling it a violation of religious freedom.

Over 20 EU states condemn Hungary for ban on LGBT propaganda among children

“This restricts the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression,” diplomats state in a joint declaration.

His Beatitude officiates consecration of Bishop of Rakhiv

At the Church of St. Agapitus in the Lavra, the Primate of the UOC ordained a vicar for the Khust Eparchy.

Met Victor: It is painful to see Lavra's relics turned into test subjects

According to the bishop, there is particular concern over how members of the scientific commission will handle the holy relics.