On September 21, 2024, on the ending of the feast of the Exaltation of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, Metropolitan Symeon of Vinnytsia and Bar celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Church of the Holy Great Martyr Paraskeva in the village of Zarvantsi, Vinnytsia district. His Eminence was concelebrated by the clergy of the Vinnytsia-Bar and Vinnytsia-Tulchyn Dioceses. During the service, prayers were offered for the Ukrainian army and victory. Ukraine.
After the liturgy, Metropolitan Symeon preached a sermon and thanked the community, which recently decided to leave the UOC-Moscow Patriarchate and join the local Orthodox Church of Ukraine, for their contribution to the cause of Ukraine's spiritual independence.
The decision was made at the end of March, but for almost six months the community had to fight for its right to be in the Ukrainian Church: the former Rector and his few supporters did not allow parishioners to enter the church premises, and people gathered weekly in the churchyard and held services in the open air.
Metropolitan Symeon presented the medal "For Sacrifice and Love for Ukraine" to active members of the religious community and benefactors of the parish. During the Liturgy, the rector of the church, Archpriest Serhiy Livonchuk, was also awarded another liturgical award.
On behalf of the parishioners, Fr. Serhiy thanked Metropolitan Symeon for his archpastoral visit, as well as for his constant spiritual support, prayers, and archpastoral guidance.
Press service of the Diocese of Vinnytsia and Bar of the UOC (OCU)
