Kiev, August 18, 2021
The Rudoselsk Icon, in honor of which a monastery has been established in the Belotserkov Diocese. Photo: Facebook
Despite the persecution from the state, schismatics, and other Orthodox Churches, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church headed by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine continues to grow in terms of faithful and churches.
And the Church continues to develop in its spiritual life, as evidenced by the monasteries popping up all over Ukraine. At its latest session yesterday, the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Church blessed the establishment of two more monasteries, where Orthodox faithful can dedicate their lives to God.
In particular, the Synod blessed the formation of a monastery in honor of the Rudoselsk Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos in the Belotserkov Diocese and a monastery in honor of the Salutations of the Most Holy Theotokos in the Mukachevo Diocese, reports the Information-Education Department of the Ukrainian Church.
Monasticism has been growing rapidly in the canonical Ukrainian Church in recent years. Just this year, a convent opened in the Cherkasy Diocese in March, another was formed in the same diocese in April, and the Synod blessed the establishment of three monasteries in May, one of which opened earlier this month, and another monastery is currently under construction in the Vinnitsa Diocese. New monasteries were also established in Russia and Belarus in June.
A new hermitage, named for St. Sergius of Radonezh, was also opened in the Belotserkov Diocese last year. According to the UOC’s 2020 report, there were 255 monasteries at the end of last year, in addition to all those that have been established and opened this year.
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