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# Our Lady of Pochaev Parish Celebrates First Liturgy at New Church
- URL: https://uoj.news/news/84251-our-lady-of-pochaev-parish-celebrates-first-liturgy-at-new-church/
- Published: 2025-04-03T10:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-25T16:11:11.000Z
- Description: A Milestone of Faith and Perseverance in North Port, FL
- Author: News
- Tags: #Category: News, ROCOR, Orthodox Growth in America, Metropolitan Hilarion Kapral

March 22, 2025—The faithful of [Our Lady of Pochaev](https://www.facebook.com/people/%D0%A5%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BC-%D0%9F%D0%BE%D1%87%D0%B0%D0%B5%D0%B2%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B9-%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%8B-%D0%91%D0%BE%D0%B6%D0%B8%D0%B5%D0%B9-%D0%9C%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B8-%D1%88%D1%82-%D0%A4%D0%BB%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B0-%D0%A1%D0%A8%D0%90/100080078637021/) Parish (ROCOR) in North Port, FL, gathered to celebrate the first Divine Liturgy at their new church location. The service, led by Archimandrite Stefan (Khilchuk) alongside Deacon Alexander Khartoniuk, marked a triumphant moment after years of effort, prayers, and sacrifice. 

![Archimandrite Stefan (Khilchuk) during Proskomedia ](https://uoj.news/content/images/2025/04/84251-our-lady-of-pochaev-parish-celebrates-first-liturgy-at-new-church-body-1-8448686f21d0.jpg)

Archimandrite Stefan (Khilchuk) during Proskomedia eadiocese.org

The preceding day saw parishioners and monastic brethren laboring to prepare the space, ensuring a fitting place for worship. Honoring their spiritual heritage, prayers were offered for the late Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral) of Eastern America & New York and Metropolitan Nephon (Solodukh) of Volhynia & Lutsk, figures instrumental in sustaining the monastery’s mission. It was Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral) who initiated and inspired the new life of the monastery after the expulsion of the brotherhood from St. Nicholas Monastery in North Fort Myers

![Deacon Alexander Khartoniuk](https://uoj.news/content/images/2025/04/84251-our-lady-of-pochaev-parish-celebrates-first-liturgy-at-new-church-body-2-37476a99efc0.jpg)

Deacon Alexander Khartoniuk eadiocese.org

Fr. Stefan congratulated everyone on the feast and the beginning of a new chapter in the history of the church and monastery.

The celebration concluded with communal fellowship, embodying the unity and resilience of the Orthodox faithful. This milestone stands as a testament to perseverance, faith, and the unwavering protection and intercession of the Theotokos, heralding a new chapter in the life of the parish.