On November 12, 2024, Metropolitan Symeon of Vinnytsia and Bar consecrated a newly built church in honor of St. Anna in the village of Golendry, Khmilnyk district, Vinnytsia region. In the consecrated church, His Eminence celebrated the Divine Liturgy in concelebration with the Rector of the church, Priest Nazariy Trach, and clergy of the Vinnytsia-Bar and Vinnytsia-Tulchyn dioceses.
During the Liturgy, prayers were offered for Ukraine and the victory of the Ukrainian army.
After the Liturgy, a religious procession was held around the church.
Metropolitan Symeon delivered a sermon to the clergy and faithful. At the end of the celebrations, His Eminence congratulated the Rector of the church, Priest Nazariy Trach, and the parishioners on the consecration of the church. With the blessing of the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, His Beatitude Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine, Metropolitan Symeon awarded the founders of the church, Oleksandr Yaremchuk and Stanislav Andriychuk, with the Order of St. Nicholas. The Archpastor also awarded his blessed certificates to the parishioners who made efforts to build a new church in their village.
Priest Nazariy, in turn, thanked Metropolitan Symeon for his visit and joint prayer. On behalf of the parishioners, the priest presented the Metropolitan with flowers and a fragrant loaf (korovai).
The Church of St. Anna was built over a period of two years. Until then, the village of Golendry did not have its own church, and people went to pray in churches in neighboring villages. From now on, as Metropolitan Symeon emphasized, the villagers have their own shrine, where God will listen to their requests, as was said in the prayers during the consecration of the church, and will give to everyone according to their needs and faith.
Press service of the Diocese of Vinnytsia and Bar of the UOC (OCU)
