Mukachevo, Ukraine, September 25, 2019
Photo: m-church.org.ua
More than 30 Gypsy children were baptized in a mass celebration in the Mukachevo Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church on Sunday, September 22.
The service was held at the initiative of the head of the diocesan youth department, Archimandrite Agapit (Shpinyak) and the rector of the Holy Trinity Church in Mukachevo, Archpriest Yaroslav Popovich, reports the diocesan press service.
Photo: m-church.org.ua
“The priests celebrated the Sacrament of Baptism on the territory of the settlement. Youth from the city of Irshava served as Godparents. Almost for the first time in the history of this poly-ethnic minority, a mass Baptism was celebrated in accordance with the canons of the Orthodox Church,” the diocese reports.
After the Baptism, each child received a cross necklace. The mothers of the newly-baptized were also given valuable gifts, and the children were treated delicious desserts in honor of the great event. The families were also given an icon of the Mother of God as a gift.
Photo: m-church.org.ua
“Our faith is glorious, our Orthodox faith! The heart rejoices that each of these children now have a guardian angel, and the Holy Mother Church will pray for them… Let us do good while there is still time,” Archimandrite Agapit wrote on his Facebook page.
There have been several such joyous events in recent years. In June 2018, 40 Gypsy children were baptized in Achaea, 15 were baptized on the Greek island of Evia that July, and both the Russian and Romanian Churches have programs actively engaging Gypsy youths and adults to help them go deeper into their Orthodox faith.
