On July 12, 2023, on the day of remembrance of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, the Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Metropolitan Symeon of Vinnytsia and Bar, at the invitation of the rector of the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Zhovkva, Lviv region, Archimandrite Markian (Kayumov), and with the blessing of Metropolitan Dymytrii of Lviv and Sokal, celebrated the Divine Liturgy on the occasion of the patronal feast and the 30th anniversary of the construction of the local church. The day before, Metropolitan Symeon, together with Metropolitan Dymytrii, held the festive All-night vigil in the same church.
The Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Zhovkva was built between 1991 and 1993 by architect Oles Yarema. The first service was held on November 21, 1993. In 2018, the religious community of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul was the first in the Lviv region to decide to withdraw from the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate and join the canonical autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine. Before the transfer to the OCU, the church in Zhovkva was the largest church of the UOC-MP in the Lviv region.
During the Divine Liturgy, which Metropolitan Symeon celebrated in concelebration with numerous clergy, prayers were offered for the founders of the church, benefactors and parishioners who have been taking care of their shrine for 30 years and offering prayer requests for themselves, their families, their city and Ukraine.
During the festive Liturgy, Metropolitan Symeon also read a prayer for the victory of Ukraine and the defenders who are courageously defending the Motherland from the russian invaders.
The service was graced by the wonderful singing of the local choir. Many parishioners received the Holy Communion.
After the Liturgy, a religious procession was held around the church. Metropolitan Symeon and the clergy also honored the memory of the first rector, Archpriest Stepan Khomyn, whose grave is located on the left side of the church entrance.
The procession ended with a prayer to the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. The rector, parishioners and all residents of Zhovkva were greeted with "Many Years".
Metropolitan Symeon addressed the audience with an archpastoral speech in which he commemorated the feats and labors of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul for the Church. The Archpastor congratulated the rector of the church, Archimandrite Markian, and the parishioners on the patronal feast and the 30th anniversary of the construction of their local shrine. The Metropolitan wished that the church in Zhovkva would continue to be a place where many people would come to receive comfort, consolation, spiritual pleasure and God's grace.
The Archpastor recalled another event that took place as part of the celebrations, namely the icon of the Holy Great Martyr John of Sochava with a part of his holy relics, which was presented to the community of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul the night before. Metropolitan Symeon emphasized that for almost 100 years the relics of St. John had been in Zhovkva until they were transported to Suceava in Romania, where they remain to this day. The Metropolitan wished that St. John, along with the Apostles Peter and Paul, would be the patron saint of the church and the city of Zhovkva.
Archimandrite Markiyan (Kayumov) thanked Metropolitan Symeon for his visit and archpastoral prayers and guidance. The priest emphasized that it was a great honor for him and the church community to host Metropolitan Symeon and share the Holy Eucharist with His Eminence. The rector expressed his gratitude to the invited clergy for the joint prayer and congratulated all his parishioners on the patronal feast and the anniversary of the church.
Press service of the Vinnytsia-Bar Diocese of the UOC (OCU)
