On November 3, 2024, on the 19th Sunday after Pentecost, the Divine Liturgy was held at the Transfiguration Cathedral of Vinnytsia, led by Metropolitan Symeon of Vinnytsia and Bar. His Eminence was concelebrated by the clergy of the Vinnytsia-Bar Diocese and guests in the holy orders.
On this day, Metropolitan Symeon celebrated his Birthday. Before the Liturgy began, the Archpastor was warmly greeted by members of the children's and youth choir of the Cathedral. During the Liturgy, prayers of thanksgiving and prayers for the Metropolitan's health and blessed success in his service to God and people were offered. Metropolitan Symeon also said a prayer for his deceased parents and relatives.
As always in this difficult time of war, the Liturgy was followed by requests and prayers for the defenders of the Motherland and the victory of Ukraine over the Russian aggressor.
At the end of the Liturgy, a thanksgiving prayer service was held and the ruling Bishop was greeted with a Mnogi lita (Many years). Then the Secretary of the Vinnytsia- Bar Diocese Administration, Archdeacon Vladislav Demchenko, read out greetings to Metropolitan Symeon from the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, His Beatitude Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine.
On behalf of the clergy, Metropolitan Symeon was greeted by Archpriest Vitaliy Goloskevych. A greeting address from the command of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was read by military chaplain Archimandrite Dorotheus (Markevych), who also congratulated the Archpastor on his own behalf and on behalf of all the chaplains of the Vinnytsia- Bar Diocese.
Metropolitan Symeon was greeted by the former head of the Vinnytsia Regional State Administration, head of the NGO “We are Vinnytsians” Valeriy Koroviy, head of the Vinnytsia Higher School of the Department of the Protection Police Oleksandr Zalizniak, military personnel, educators, entrepreneurs, and public figures.
Warm greetings to Metropolitan Symeon came from ordinary parishioners of the cathedral and the Cathedral Choir.
Metropolitan Symeon thanked the clergy and parishioners of the Cathedral for their greetings and warm wishes and asked for further prayerful support in the fulfillment of his archpastoral ministry.
Press service of the Diocese of Vinnytsia and Bar of the UOC (OCU)
