UOC clergymen take part in celebrations of Independence Day of Ukraine

Festivities on Independence Square in Kiev. Photo: president.gov.ua

On August 24, 2019, the Primate of the UOC, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine took part in the festivities on the occasion of Independence Day of Ukraine, reported the Information and Education Department.

The celebrations on Independence Square in Kiev, led by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, were also attended by Metropolitan Pavel (Lebed) of Vyshgorod and Chernobyl and Archbishop Iona (Cherepanov) of Obukhov, vicar of the Kiev Metropolitanate.

The celebration of the 28th anniversary of independence was attended by honored guests: former Presidents of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma, Viktor Yushchenko and Leonid Kravchuk, as well as delegates from religious and public organizations of Ukraine. Representatives of the future of the country – children – also became important participants in the holiday celebrated in the capital of Ukraine.

Solemnities included a speech, delivered by the President of Ukraine, and a "Procession of Dignity" in which the military, teachers, doctors, and athletes took part. Zelensky and his family and other dignitaries also participated in the festive procession.

On Independence Day, all the monasteries and temples of the UOC prayed for Ukraine. His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry sent the corresponding circular to all the diocesan bishops on August 12 this year.

On the same day, the head of the OCU, Epiphany Dumenko, prayed in St. Sophia Cathedral together with former President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko.

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