On October 1, 2023, the Primate of the local Ukrainian Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Metropolitan Epifaniy, on the day of the Church holiday of the Intercession of the Holy Mother of God and the Day of Defenders of Ukraine, performed a vigil liturgy for the repose of the souls of all fallen defenders of the Motherland and civilians.
That’s according to the OCU press service.
Metropolitan Hilarion of Rivne and Ostroh and local clergy, parents and relatives of fallen defenders of the Motherland, as well as representatives of local authorities also prayed at the service, which took place by the stele erected in memory of fallen Ukrainian Heroes.
After the liturgy, His Beatitude Metropolitan Epifaniy expressed his condolences to the parents and relatives who lost their sons and daughters during this Russo-Ukrainian war.
The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine also laid flowers at the grave of the late Metropolitan Danyil (Chokalyuk), who made a lot of efforts and a significant contribution to the development of the Rivne Diocese and the establishment of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and at the grave of Vasyl Chervony, the long-time head of the Diocese Cathedral.
