On 1 October 2023, on the 17th Sunday after Pentecost and the feast day of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos, at the invitation of Bishop Pavlo of Khmelnytskyi and Kamianets-Podilskyi, Metropolitan Symeon of Vinnytsia and Bar led the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos in Khmelnytskyi. Metropolitan Symeon was concelebrated by Metropolitan Joasaph of Ivano-Frankivsk and Halych and Bishop Pavlo of Khmelnytsky and Kamyanets-Podilsky, local clergy and guests in the holy orders.
During the Liturgy, prayers were offered for the defenders of Ukraine, which included the following words: "Strengthen them with Your power and strength and fill their hearts with courage and bravery to defend our Motherland Ukraine and gain victory over the enemy who has risen against us. Keep all the defenders of Ukraine safe from enemy attacks, from disease and from all disasters. Make the name of our Army glorious for friends and terrible for enemies..."
During the Liturgy, Bishop Pavlo ordained Vasyl Drabinkevych as a deacon.
After the religious procession and prayer service, which took place immediately after the end of the Liturgy, Metropolitan Symeon congratulated Bishop Pavel, clergy and parishioners on the Patronal Feast of the Cathedral of the Khmelnytsky Diocese, noting that this is the first patronal feast of the religious community of the church after its joining the OCU, and thanked everyone for their joint prayer.
Press service of the Vinnytsia-Bar Diocese of the UOC (OCU)
