Gifts for Ukrainian soldiers on the occasion of the Nativity of Christ have been prepared by the Vinnytsia-Bar Diocese of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. The coordinator of the charity collection, Archpriest Anatoliy Kuznetsov, is preparing to go on a trip to eastern Ukraine on December 24 to be with the defenders on December 25, the Day of the Nativity of Christ, to support them with prayer, a kind word and, of course, delicious gifts and necessary things for the soldiers, which were collected by the priests of the Diocese, led by Metropolitan Symeon of Vinnytsia and Bar, parishioners and people of good will who joined the charity initiative.
Father Anatoliy mentions all the donors on his Facebook page and thanks everyone for participating in the good deed, which he himself, as a volunteer, has been doing since 2014 with the blessing of Metropolitan Symeon. This time, according to the priest, he will take to the east a lot of goodies that will remind the soldiers in the dugouts and trenches of the warmth of their home and a delicious holiday dinner.
The parishes of the Vinnytsia-Bar Diocese, as well as the staff and managers of enterprises and educational institutions, joined the collection of gifts. Traditionally, this list includes the staff of the State Educational Institution "Center for Vocational Education No. 1 in Vinnytsia" and its director Valeriy Dyakiv, as well as agricultural company Svitanok Agrofirm LLC and its director Mykola Melnyk, a private farm in the village of Plyakhova, Khmilnyk district, and its director Viktor Savchuk, who donated homemade pastries, a large number of meat and sausage products, fragrant Podillia apples, and flour for homemade dumplings to be prepared just before the departure. Alexander Sokur sent the soldiers hand-warmers, Mykola Nechyporuk sent aromatic coffee, and Yuriy Kalinin sent personal care products. And this is only a small part of the items and products that individuals and religious communities continue to collect and send.
Financial assistance for the purchase of the necessary items was provided, in particular, by the community of the Transfiguration Cathedral in Vinnytsia and personally by Metropolitan Symeon. The parishes of the Church of St. Nicholas in Nepedivka village, Khmilnyk district ( Rector - Archpriest Valeriy Kushnir), the Church of the Protection of the Holy Virgin in Demydivka village, Zhmerynka district ( Rector - Archpriest Valeriy Kushnir) actively participated in the collection of aid.
"We sent part of the aid earlier by Nova Poshta," says Father Anatoly, "For example, winter tires for cars and an inverter generator, which we purchased thanks to GTM and Vladimir Petrushenko and Sergey Kostyuk.
The fundraising and Christmas gifts for the soldiers is ongoing and anyone can join in. Archpriest Anatoly Kuznetsov's contact phone number is +38(067)998-92-62. Card number for donations: 4149 4993 8518 6570 (Kuznetsov Anatoly Anatolyevich).
"The trip will be held, with God's help, on the feast of Christmas," the volunteer priest emphasizes. "I consider my main mission to share the joy of celebrating Christmas with our soldiers, whom I can reach, and to support them spiritually. At the same time, I will convey to the defenders the warmth of our hearts, sincere love and respect of our church diocesan community and many people of good will and loving hearts who have joined this good cause with treats and gifts."
Press service of the Diocese of Vinnytsia and Bar of the UOC (OCU)
