On March 17, 2024, on Forgiveness Sunday, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God "Skoroposlushnytsia" in Vinnytsia. It was the first Liturgy after the church community decided to leave the UOC of the moscow patriarchate and join the canonical local Orthodox Church of Ukraine. It was also the first service in this church in the Ukrainian language.
The liturgy was led by the Rector of the church, Archpriest Kostyantyn Ivanchenko, who was concelebrated by priests Stepan Kovalchuk and Rostyslav Semenchuk.
During the Liturgy, prayers were offered for Ukraine and the victory of the Ukrainian army. Prayers were also said for the repose of the souls of the defenders of Ukraine who gave their lives defending their homeland, as well as for the repose of the soul of the previous Rector of the church, Archpriest Ilya Lavrenenko, who recently reposed in God.
After the Liturgy, the Rite of Forgiveness was performed, which, according to the tradition of the Orthodox Church, is performed on this day, before the beginning of Lent.
Since that day, the new community of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine in Vinnytsia, which has completed the necessary legal documents, has resumed its worship activities and continues to provide spiritual and humanitarian support to patients and residents of social healthcare facilities located near the church.
Press service of the Diocese of Vinnytsia and Bar of the UOC (OCU)
