Vinnitsa, Ukraine, May 16, 2019
Photo: eparhia.vinnica.ua
Holy Transfiguration Cathedral in Vinnitsa was the first church to be seized by schismatics since the creation of the so-called “Orthodox Church of Ukraine” on December 15. The former Vinnitsa hierarch of the canonical Church, Simeon Shostatsky left the Church of Christ to attend the “unification council” that day and join the new schismatic sect, taking the cathedral with him, despite the wishes of the people.
Since then, the Vinnitsa Diocese has been among the most beleaguered in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and the current ruling hierarch, His Eminence Archbishop Barsanuphius has been physically attacked more than once. However, neither the bishop, nor the clergy, nor the simple believers have wavered in their faith.
Photo: eparhia.vinnica.ua
On Tuesday, the feast days of St. Makary the Metropolitan of Kiev, the faithful of Vinnitsa gathered outside the seized Holy Transfiguration Cathedral to celebrate the Divine Liturgy in honor of the holy martyr, reports the press service of the Vinnitsa Diocese.
Abp. Barsanuphius celebrated the Divine Liturgy with the clergy of his diocese at the grave of His Eminence Metropolitan Makary (Svistun), who ruled the Vinnitsa Diocese from 1992 to 2007 and was buried next to the cathedral.
Photo: eparhia.vinnica.ua
For 15 years, the clergy, monastics, and laity of the diocese had gathered in the Transfiguration Cathedral to congratulate Met. Makary on his name’s day, and since his repose in 2017, the faithful began to honor the burial place of their beloved archpastor and celebrate panikhidas there for the repose of his soul.
Photo: eparhia.vinnica.ua
“Metropolitan Makary was a hierarch respected by the people and loved by the clergy,” the diocesan report states.
Photo: eparhia.vinnica.ua
Thus, according to established tradition, the clergy and parishioners of the Vinnitsa Diocese of the canonical Church gathered at the cathedral on the day of St. Makary of Kiev, the patron saint of Met. Makary, to celebrate the Divine Liturgy and a panikhida at his grave.
Photo: eparhia.vinnica.ua
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