Supraśl, Podlaskie Voivodeship, Poland, April 10, 2024
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The feast of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos is the patronal feast of Supraśl Monastery, the foremost monastic center in the Polish Orthodox Church.
The feast was celebrated by several hierarchs of the Polish Church this year, joined by His Eminence Metropolitan Philaret of Lviv of the persecuted Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The All-Night Vigil for the feast was led by the monastery abbot His Grace Bishop Andrzej of Supraśl and the visiting Ukrainian hierarch, assisted by the fathers of the monastery and visiting clergy, the monastery reports.
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The next morning, the blessing of holy water and Divine Liturgy were celebrated by Bp. Andrzej, Met. Philaret, and the Polish hierarchs Archbishop Jakub of Białystok and Gdańsk, Archbishop Grzegorz of Bielsko.
Following the Gospel, Met. Philaret from Ukraine offered a homily, emphasizing the unique role of the Mother of God, who became the New Eve, through whose humility and complete devotion to God, salvation came into the world.
Following the Liturgy, Abp. Jakub spoke, recalling that exactly 40 years ago the foundation stone was laid for the reconstruction of the Church of the Annunciation, which was completely demolished in 1944.
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The next speaker was Abp. Grzegorz, who conveyed the greetings of His Beatitude Metropolitan Sawa of Poland, who was unable to attend the feast. He also stressed the spiritual importance of Supraśl Monastery.
Then the abbot, Bp. Andrzej, spoke about the importance of the Mother of God in the life of the holy habitation.
Finally, Met. Philaret spoke about the difficult situation the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church faces today, with its churches being physically seized. He thanked everyone for the common prayer and for the help the Polish Church has shown to Ukrainian refugees.
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