On July 25, 2025, in the village of Lishnya in the Ternopil region, the annual All-Ukrainian pilgrimage took place in memory of Ukrainian soldiers who fell fighting against the Russian occupiers.
His Beatitude Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine led the prayerful commemoration, performed the consecration of the iconostasis, and celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the local memorial church dedicated to Saint Righteous Anna.
Concelebrating with the Primate of the autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine were Metropolitan Ioan of Cherkasy and Chyhyryn, Metropolitan Nestor of Ternopil and Kremenets, Archbishop Mark of Kropyvnytskyi and Holovanivsk, Archbishop Pavlo of Ternopil and Terebovlia, Archbishop Tykhon of Ternopil and Buchach, Archbishop Mitrofan of Kharkiv and Slobozhanshchyna, Bishop Borys of Kherson and Kakhovka, Bishop Havryil of Rivne and Sarny, the rector of the church, Archpriest Andriy Lyubun, and invited clergy.
Numerous relatives of the fallen Ukrainian warriors, servicemen, and representatives of local authorities prayed during the service.
After the Gospel reading, His Beatitude delivered the primatial homily, in which he spoke, among other things, about the spiritual dimension of the Ukrainian people’s struggle for freedom, a gift from God, for which our best sons and daughters sacrificed their lives.
Furthermore, Metropolitan Epifaniy urged everyone to honor the memory of our fallen heroes with prayer and to more often turn to God in gratitude for preserving the Ukrainian state and with requests for help in the fight against the Russian aggressor.
Later, the Primate of the OCU offered a special prayer to the Lord for our Motherland, which is undergoing a time of severe trials and danger. Prayer petitions were also offered for the warriors who continue to selflessly defend Ukraine, for the authorities, and for our people.
At the end of the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude awarded church honors to the relatives of Ukraine’s defenders, servicemen, and benefactors.
After the service, Metropolitan Epifaniy led a litia at the memorial cross for the repose of the souls of all fallen defenders of the Fatherland and murdered peaceful civilians.
At the conclusion of the prayerful pilgrimage, His Beatitude blessed a vehicle, acquired through the efforts of the Ternopil Eparchy, and handed it over to the warriors of the 5th Separate Heavy Mechanized Brigade.
Source: pomisna
