On November 1, 2023, the feast day of The Holy Wonderworkers and Unmercenary Physicians Cosmas and Damian, a festive Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the Lower Church of the Transfiguration Cathedral, which is dedicated to these saints. The service was led by Metropolitan Symeon of Vinnytsia and Bar. The Metropolitan was concelebrated by the clergy of the Cathedral.
During the service, a prayer was offered for the Ukrainian army and the victory of Ukraine.
After the Liturgy, a prayer service was held to Saints Cosmas and Damian before the icon with particles of their holy relics. Metropolitan Symeon addressed the clergy and parishioners with a sermon on the life and spiritual deeds of the holy healers and wonderworkers Cosmas and Damian.
With the blessing of the Metropolitan, Archdeacon Vladyslav Demchenko, Secretary of the Vinnytsia-Barsk Diocese, reminded the congregation of the main historical milestones of the lower church, which was once the tomb of the Grokholsky family, the founders of the church, and then, in 1855, became an Orthodox temple. In the difficult times of the 20th century for the Church, the Lower Church was first transformed into a food warehouse, then into a gym and a wardrobe for the Philharmonic Hall, and finally, in the late 90s of the last century, it became a functioning church again.
Metropolitan Symeon congratulated all those present on the Patronal Feast of the church and emphasized that today it is in the Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian that a large number of children of Vinnytsia receive the Mystery of Baptism and take their first step on the path to salvation. The Archpastor wished all those who prayed and will continue to pray in the Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian the salvation of the soul and good health through the prayers of the Holy Healers and Wonderworkers.
Press service of the Vinnytsia-Bar Diocese of the UOC (OCU)
