On December 27, 2023, on the Feast Day of the Holy Apostle, First Martyr and Archdeacon Stephen, Metropolitan Symeon of Vinnytsia and Bar visited the Deanery of Koziatyn.
The Archpastor led the festive Liturgy in the Church of the Protection of the Holy Virgin in Brodetske village of the Koziatyn community of Khmilnyk district. His Eminence was concelebrated by the clergy of the Deanery of Kozyatyn, led by Dean Archpriest Valery Kushnir, Archpriest Dymytriy Pasichnyk, Dean of the Zhmerynka district as well as Archpriest Vitaliy Nazarovets, Dean of the Bar district of the Vinnytsia-Tulchyn Eparchy, and clergy from Vinnytsia and Zhmerynka.
During the Liturgy, prayers were offered for Ukraine and the victory of the Ukrainian army. After the Liturgy, a prayer service was held to the holy first martyr Stephen.
Metropolitan Symeon addressed the parishioners and guests with a sermon and congratulated everyone on the Feast of the Nativity of Christ. In turn, the Rector of the Church, Father Igor Lukashenko, thanked the Archpastor for his visit and joint prayer.
At the end of the celebration, the parish choir and Sunday school students performed a number of traditional Ukrainian carols and greeted the guests.
Press service of the Diocese of Vinnytsia and Bar of the UOC (OCU)
