On June 7, 2026, the Sunday of All Saints and the feast of the miraculous Ternopil Icon of the Mother of God, Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine presided over the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Ternopil.
Concelebrating with the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine were numerous hierarchs, including Metropolitans Makariy of Lviv, Simeon of Vinnytsia and Bar, Ioasaf of Ivano-Frankivsk and Halych, Nestor of Ternopil and Kremenets, Alexander of Pereiaslav and Vyshneve, and Ilarion of Rivne and Ostroh, together with bishops, clergy of the cathedral, and invited priests.
Among those attending the service were Ukrainian servicemen, local officials, and a large number of faithful.
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, the Primate congratulated the faithful on the feast and presented commemorative crosses to clergy of the diocese marking significant anniversaries. Clergy and benefactors were also honored with church awards.
Archbishop Tykhon of Ternopil and Buchach thanked Metropolitan Epifaniy, the concelebrating hierarchs, clergy, and faithful for their participation in the celebration. Greetings were also offered by Ternopil Regional Military Administration Head Taras Pastukh and Ternopil Mayor Serhiy Nadal.
The festivities concluded with a solemn procession carrying the miraculous Ternopil Icon of the Mother of God to the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ.
In his homily, the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine explained that holiness belongs to God by nature, yet human beings are called to participate in it through communion with Him.
“Today, as we honor all the saints, we are reminded of our own calling to holiness,” he said, stressing that God invites every person to be filled with His light and grace.
The Metropolitan explained that holiness is not merely an ideal but a reality demonstrated by the saints, who, through their union with God, overcame the limitations of the fallen world.
At the same time, he cautioned that the path to holiness is inseparable from sacrifice and spiritual struggle. Evil actively opposes God’s light, he said, and those who seek righteousness inevitably encounter trials and opposition.
Turning to the commemoration of the miraculous Ternopil Icon, he highlighted the unique place of the Virgin Mary among the saints.
“Among all the saints whom we commemorate today, the greatest example for us is the Mother of God, the Most Pure Virgin Mary,” he said.
He concluded by praying that believers, strengthened by faith and divine grace, may overcome evil and darkness and attain victory and holiness.
Source: Orthodox Church of Ukraine
