On Saturday, June 13, 2026, Metropolitan Athenagoras of Belgium and Exarch of the Netherlands and Luxembourg presided over the solemn consecration of the historic Church of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos and Saint Luke of Simferopol in Boussoit. This event marked a significant milestone in the life of the Ukrainian Orthodox community of Hainaut, which has gathered in this sacred place for prayer, worship, and spiritual guidance for more than sixty years.
On Friday afternoon, the Metropolitan brought the holy relics of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called and the Holy Martyr Justin the Philosopher to the church, where they were placed in the Holy Altar during the consecration service.
During the Vespers service, Mr Sorin Farcaș was tonsured as a reader in preparation for his ordination as a deacon the following day. A festive reception for the faithful was held at the conclusion of the service.
The consecration of the church
On Saturday morning, the main consecration service began with a solemn triple procession around the church, followed by readings from the Epistles and the Gospels. The holy relics were then formally brought into the church and placed on the Holy Altar.
This was followed by the deeply moving rite of consecrating the Holy Table: washing it with water and soap, cleansing it with rose water, anointing it with Holy Chrism, drying it with the antimensia, placing the symbols of the four Evangelists on it, and vesting it with the katasarkion. The monogram of Christ (IC XC) was also inscribed on the four walls of the church, as a visible sign that this space is now wholly dedicated to God.
In his sermon, the Metropolitan emphasised that a church is far more than a mere building. With the presence of holy relics, it becomes a place where heaven meets earth — a space for prayer, sanctification, consolation, and encountering the living Christ. He also referred to the special protection of the Most Holy Theotokos, as well as to Saint Luke of Simferopol, the physician and wonderworker who combined care for the body and the soul with an exemplary Christian love.
Ordination of a New Deacon
During the Divine Liturgy that followed the consecration, Sorin Farcaș was ordained as a deacon and received the name Porphyrios.
Deacon Porphyrios is married to Loxandra and is the father of two daughters. He has been actively involved in the life of the Holy Metropolis for many years, initially in the parish of Namur and later in the parish of Saint Barbara in Liège. Professionally, he works in the correctional service and provides pastoral care to prisoners in Wallonia.
In his address, the Metropolitan emphasised that the ministry of the deacon is a divine calling to service, prayer, mercy, and love, not a human distinction. He reminded the congregation that the Church is composed not only of consecrated temples, but of people who dedicate their lives to Christ and to bearing witness to the Gospel above all else.
The new deacon was called to become a living witness to divine compassion, especially towards those who are suffering, feel abandoned, or have lost hope. Particular emphasis was placed on his future ministry among prisoners, where he will bring the message of forgiveness, hope, and spiritual healing.
Gratitude for the Renovation
Following the Divine Liturgy, the Metropolitan conveyed his heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to the church’s comprehensive renovation, particularly Archon Boris Gourov, Archontissa Youlianna Gourova, Archon Athanasios Martinos, and the parish of the Dormition of the Theotokos in the Hamptons, USA. He also expressed his gratitude to various organisations, benefactors, and private donors, including Mr Paul Remerie. The parishes of the Holy Metropolis also made a significant contribution to preserving and revitalising this historic place of worship.
This was followed by a festive meal in the parish hall and a specially arranged area in the church garden.
A Story of Faith and Perseverance
The history of the Boussoit parish is closely linked to the fate of thousands of Ukrainians who were forced to leave their homeland after the Second World War. Many were taken to Germany for forced labour. Following the liberation of Europe in 1945, some returned home, while others sought a new life in Western Europe to avoid the Soviet regime.
At that time, Belgium was in need of labourers for its mines, quarries, and metallurgical industry. Approximately twenty thousand Ukrainians settled in the country. In 1948, the parish of the Protection of the Theotokos was thus founded under the guidance of Protopresbyter Ioannis Bachinsky.
The community acquired a building in Boussoit that included a small church and a parish hall. The chapel was officially consecrated in October 1965. Over the following decades, generations of the faithful participated in the holy mysteries there, establishing the church as an important spiritual centre for the Ukrainian diaspora in Belgium.
Following a period of decline during which the number of faithful decreased significantly, the church was entrusted to Metropolitan Athenagoras of Belgium in 2019. A few years later, the war in Ukraine brought thousands of refugees to Belgium once again. Thanks to a recent renovation, this historic place of pilgrimage has regained its vitality and now serves as a spiritual centre for Orthodox Ukrainians and all who seek God’s presence.
Father Marc Tsubera currently serves in the parish, having been ordained a deacon and subsequently a presbyter last year by His Eminence. He is married, is the father of one child, and serves this reborn community with dedication.
A sign of hope for the future
The consecration of the church marks the culmination of years of effort and restoration work, as well as the start of a new chapter in the parish’s history.
As a place of prayer, encounter, and spiritual support, this church will stand as a living witness to faith in God and the perseverance of His people in the years to come, as well as bearing witness to the dynamic presence of the Orthodox Church in Belgium.
May the Most Holy Theotokos continue to spread her protective veil over all who seek refuge here, and may Saint Luke of Simferopol intercede unceasingly for this parish and for all those suffering in body and soul.
