On January 28, with the blessing of the Metropolitan Bessarion of Spain and Portugal, the Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarch in Ukraine, Bishop Michael of Koman led the service of the Divine Liturgy in the Ukrainian language for the Ukrainian parish of St. App. Peter and Paul at the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. app. Andrew the First-Called and St. military Dimitriy
This is reported by the Stauropegium Mission of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Ukraine.
The rite of the Divine Liturgy was performed under a new translation from Greek into Ukrainian, which was produced by the Stauropegium of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Ukraine.
The liturgy was attended by Ukrainian believers from the parish of the Metropolis of Spain and Portugal of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Madrid, Sacra Metrópolis Ortodoxa de España y Portugal – Patriarcado Ecuménico.
After reading the Gospel, Bishop Michael addressed parishioners with a sermon in which he emphasized the nature of the Church, emphasized the universality of Christianity, and drew the attention of those present to the Christian responsibility of believers to all those who enter the church. The bishop also called for an understanding of the truth that the basis of the Church and specifically of a separate parish is not a national identity, but loyalty to Christ, the Orthodox faith and life in accordance with this faith.
Bishop Exarch thanked the local Bishop Metropolitan Bessarion for the opportunity to serve in his Metropolis for believers from Ukraine who are parishioners of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, because many of them were forced to find themselves in a foreign land due to the unprovoked aggression by the Russian Federation.
