On June 29, 2023, Metropolitan Symeon of Vinnytsia and Bar visited his native village of Raikivtsi in Khmelnytskyi region. On this day, when the Church honors the memory of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul (the parish of Raikivtsi celebrates church holidays according to the New Julian calendar), after repair work, the renovated Altar Table of the local church in honor of the Archangel Michael was consecrated. Together with the Altar Table, new Antimensions were consecrated. His Eminence was concelebrated by the following bishops: Metropolitan Roman of Vinnytsia and Bratslav, Archbishop Tikhon of Ternopil and Buchach, Archbishop Agapit of Vyshhorod, Bishop Pavlo of Khmelnytsky and Kamyanets-Podilsky, Bishop Anthony of Chernihiv and Nizhyn, Archpriest Yuriy Tymoshchuk, rector of the church, and clergy of the Vinnytsia-Bar and Khmelnytsky dioceses. Abbess Yelikonida (Voyevoda), the abbess of the Vinnytsia Annunciation Convent, prayed during the service.
The vestments for the new Altar Table, the Table of preparation and two kiots (icon cases) with icons of the holy warriors - St. George the Victorious and St. Demetrius of Thessalonica - were purchased with funds donated by the family of the fallen soldier from Raykivtsi, Yuriy Pododymenko, in memory of him who sacrificed life for Ukraine.
After the consecration, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated on the renewed Altar Table. During the service, requests and prayers were offered for Ukrainian soldiers, victory and the restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity.
Prayers were also offered for the repose of the soul of the fallen soldier Yuriy and all the defenders of Ukraine who gave their lives defending their native land from russian invaders.
After the Liturgy and prayer service, Metropolitan Symeon delivered an archpastoral address and thanked the bishops, clergy and faithful for their joint prayer. The hierarch congratulated the rector, Father Yurii, and the villagers on the memorable event in the life of the parish. On behalf of the Church, Metropolitan Symeon thanked the parents of Yuriy Pododymenko for raising such a son - a true patriot of his Motherland and a courageous warrior. The Metropolitan thanked them for the donation, thanks to which the church was decorated and renovated, and emphasized that from now on, at every Liturgy, the name of Yuriy will be mentioned in prayers not only as a warrior, but also as a benefactor of the parish. Bishop Pavlo of Khmelnytsky and Kamianets-Podilsky, the head of the Khmelnytsky Diocese, also addressed the audience with a welcoming speech. Metropolitan Symeon and the parishioners, in turn, congratulated Bishop Pavlo on the Day of his patron saint, St. Paul the Apostle.
At the end of the celebrations, another pleasant event took place. Metropolitan Symeon was approached by businessman Yuriy Matchuk, who is known for his support of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine not only in his native Volyn but also in other regions of the country. Yuriy came to Metropolitan Symeon's native village on purpose to present the Archpastor with a gift - a cross. This cross was commissioned from a craftsman who made a panagia, which was presented to Metropolitan Symeon by His Beatitude Patriarch Theodore, Primate of the Orthodox Church of Alexandria, during his recent visit to Africa. Yuriy Matchuk emphasized that he made this gift to Metropolitan Symeon as a sign of respect for his work in decorating and restoring churches in the Vinnytsia Diocese, which Metropolitan Symeon leads today, as well as in his former Diocese in Volyn, and in his native village of Raykivtsi in the Khmelnytsky region.
Press Service of the Vinnytsia-Bar Diocese of The UOC (OCU)
