On November 9, 2022, Ukrainian defenders released from captivity and undergoing a rehabilitation course in the city of Dnipro visited the local diocese’s office of the OCU.
The honorable guests were welcomed by the Head of the diocese, His Eminence Bishop Simeon (Zinkevych), reports its website.
Together with the Archbishop and clergy, the heroes prayed for Ukraine’s victory over the aggressor in the central diocesan church in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy”.
After the prayer in the conference hall of the consistory, Bishop Simeon spoke with the soldiers and their families.
The meeting was also attended by Yana Ivanilova, Vice-President of Oleksandr Petrovsky’s Solidarity Fund, Aliada Mansurova, Head of the Servant of the People faction in the Dnipro City Council, archpriest Vitaly Lopushasnky, chancellor of the diocese, and archpriest Dmytro Povorotnyi, a local chaplain.
The archpastor expressed warm words of gratitude to the defenders for their courage and invoked God’s blessing on everyone. In turn, the released heroes expressed warm words of gratitude for prayers and support. Finally, the participants of the meeting discussed opportunities for cooperation to help in the reintegration of released prisoners of war.
This is not the only meeting of the clergy of the diocese with released POWs. It should be recalled that the heroes have already visited the Holy Annunciation Convent and the Mother Church in honor of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos.
