On August 10, 2024, during a visit to the Diocese of Khmelnytsky, Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine consecrated the throne and iconostasis of the renovated church of the Holy Great Martyr Catherine, whose community joined the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, and celebrated the Divine Liturgy there.
Metropolitan Dymytrii of Lviv and Sokal, Metropolitan Nestor of Ternopil and Kremenets, Archbishop Pavlo of Khmelnytskyi and Shepetivka, Bishop Anthony of Chernihiv and Nizhyn, Archpriest Vasyl Krysak, rector of the church, local and invited clergy concelebrated with the Primate of the autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
The service was attended by many believers and representatives from the local authorities.
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, the Metropolitan delivered a sermon, presented a cross to the church’s rector, Archpriest Vasyl Krysak, honored the benefactors with church awards, and gifted the church an icon of St. Raphael Zaborovsky containing a relic of the saint.
“Today, we have come together for a momentous occasion—the renovation of this beautiful church dedicated to the Holy Great Martyr Catherine. We invoked God’s grace and consecrated the altar, a sacred and central place in the life of every Christian. Here, the community gathers in prayer and participates in the Sacraments and sacred rites of the Church.
However, being good Christians requires more than just attending church; it means being true disciples of Christ. This is only possible if we consistently show love to our neighbors. Today, we clearly see the devastating consequences of the absence of love—evil, death, grief, and destruction. Innocent people, including civilians and children, are losing their lives. Our newest heroes—the defenders who demonstrate immense love by laying down their lives to protect us—are also making the ultimate sacrifice. Without their heroism, could we even consider renovating our churches or offering our prayers in these relatively calm circumstances?
I speak with our military almost every day, and they constantly ask for prayers because they feel a spiritual connection and rely on our prayerful support. Let us continue and intensify our prayers, so that we may achieve victory and a just peace.
Often, it is in times of trial or anxiety that we turn to God, not only to ask for something but also to express our gratitude. There are moments when one realizes that without God, nothing is possible. Therefore, let us turn to the Lord more frequently and wholeheartedly engage in the growth of our recognized Orthodox Church.
We also extend an invitation to those who have not yet embraced the Tomos of autocephaly—our doors and hearts remain open. Together, we are co-creators of Ukraine’s spiritual and national future. May the Lord, through the prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Holy Great Martyr Catherine, the patroness of this beautiful church, guide us toward achieving it.
The Lord always guides us toward a good goal through His providence, and your community’s journey has not been an easy one. For 30 years, you have persevered, but this year was decisive as you took a wise and courageous step towards unity within the local Ukrainian Orthodox Church,” said the Primate of the OCU.
In addition, Metropolitan Epifaniy, together with the bishops and clergy, consecrated a chapel built by the community in honor of the church’s thirtieth anniversary and the first anniversary of its unity with the local Ukrainian Church.
Source: pomisna
