On October 30, 2021, His Beatitude Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine consecrated the throne and the Holy Trinity Church in Baryshivka, Kyiv Region, also serving the first Divine Liturgy there.
The head of the Local Ukrainian Orthodox Church was assisted by Archbishop Ahapit of Vyshhorod, church rector Archpriest Mykhailo Slyvchuk, as well as the invited clergy, the OCU press service reports.
After the reading of the Gospel, Metropolitan Epifaniy delivered the sermon.
“In order for this house of God to be built, a difficult path was passed as our opponents sought to hinder its construction. However, we believed and prayed, and now the Lord answered our pleas. Today we hand this house to God so that he will be invisibly present through His grace and bolster our spiritual and physical strength. But to this end, we must give the Lord a share of our efforts and time, which we will spend in prayer, sacraments, and works of charity. After all, although God is self-sufficient and needs nothing from us, we need this ourselves. Because, if we give something to God, we will receive a hundredfold from Him,” said His Beatitude.
“With God’s help, we are able to overcome the sin and evil that prevail in the world and the challenges that have befallen our people. Therefore, let’s appreciate the great gift given by the Lord for our improvement and spiritual growth – our united local Orthodox Church of Ukraine,” the Primate summed up.
Later, the service was accompanied by prayers for Ukrainian soldiers and an all-Ukrainian prayer for an end to the devastating plague (epidemic).
At the end of the solemn service, His Beatitude once again addressed the community and awarded Archpriest Mykhailo Slyvchuk the Order of the Archangel Michael, 1st degree.
Church patrons and philanthropists were also granted high church awards.
