Ukraine, January 14, 2020
Photo: spzh.news
On January 11, the feast of the 14,000 Holy Infants murdered by Herod, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church held prayer services and events against the grave sin of abortion in several of its dioceses.
In particular, the rector of the Kiev Theological Academy His Grace Bishop Sylvester of Belgorod served a moleben before the relics of one of the Holy Infants, which are preserved in the Far Caves of the Holy Dormition-Kiev Caves Lavra. The service was celebrated at the Lavra’s Church of the Conception of St. Anna, reports the Information-Education Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
The service was held at the request of the public organization “All Ukraine” and other groups involved in anti-abortion activity, and with the blessing of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine. Participants in the event lit candles for the babies killed by abortions, and the church presented a mini-exhibition about the development of children before birth.
According to Bp. Sylvester, it is very important that the movement against abortion unites Church, public structures, and concerned citizens in joint activities that contribute to the development of a healthy society in Ukraine.
Following the service, Bp. Sylvester gave Church awards to the benefactors and main activists of the pro-life movement.
According to the Union of Orthodox Journalists, similar events were held throughout the Church, including in Odessa, where a really was held in defense of unborn children, and a moleben to the Holy Infants following the Divine Liturgy in the Holy Dormition Cathedral.
A cross made of lamps and candles in memory of the innocent victims of abortion was set up in the center of the church. According to the head of the Diocesan Department for Family Affairs, Archpriest Andrei Korobchuk, women who are repenting of the sin of abortion intensely prayed and partook of Holy Communion on that day, as well as couples who are hoping for children.
Similar events were also held in Dnipro and Kherson.
