On November 14, 2023, on the feast day of St. Philip the Apostle and St. Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica, Metropolitan Symeon of Vinnytsia and Bar celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Church of the Archangel Michael in his small homeland - in the village of Raykivtsi, Khmelnytsky region. Bishop Pavlo of Khmelnytsky and Kamyanets-Podilsky, Bishop Anthony of Chernihiv and Nizhyn, Secretary of the Khmelnytsky Eparchy Archpriest Volodymyr Marushchak, Rector of the church Archpriest Yuriy Tymoshchuk, local clergy and clergy of the Vinnytsia-Bar Diocese concelebrated with Metropolitan Symeon. During the service, a prayer was offered for the victory of the Ukrainian army.
After the liturgy, a memorial service was held in the church, during which all those present prayed especially for the repose of Metropolitan Simeon's parents, John and Bishop, who repsed thirty-six years ago, and for the Ukrainian soldiers and civilians who died in the russian-Ukrainian war.
Metropolitan Symeon addressed all those present with a sermon and thanked Bishops Paul and Anthony, as well as the Rector, Father Yuri, and all those present for the joint prayer.
Metropolitan Symeon was greeted by local authorities and fellow villagers on his birthday, which he recently celebrated.
On the same day, Metropolitan Symeon performed a funeral prayer at the graves of his parents and their deceased relatives.
Press service of the Diocese of Vinnytsia and Bar of the UOC (OCU)
