Two UOC Sunday School Sisters Killed in Airstrike

SUMY, UKRAINE — As reported by UOJ-Ukraine, two young sisters who attended Sunday school at the Ukrainian Orthodox Church's (UOC) Holy Transfiguration Cathedral were killed after a Russian airstrike destroyed their home Tuesday night, leaving the Sumy Orthodox community in mourning.

Ten-year-old Sofia and her five-year-old sister Emilia died after guided aerial bombs struck the city. Just days before the attack, the girls had attended the Sunday Divine Liturgy with their parents at the cathedral, where they prayed and received Holy Communion.

Metr. Evlogy of Sumy and Okhtyrka announced the tragedy, describing the sisters as beloved members of the cathedral's Sunday school. He said they were known to clergy and teachers as kind, sincere, and joyful children whose deaths have deeply affected the entire Sumy Eparchy.

In a message of consolation, the Metropolitan expressed hope rooted in the Christian faith, writing, “We believe that the Lord, Who blessed the little children, has received Sofia and Emilia into His heavenly dwellings. Their pure souls know neither fear, nor pain, nor war.” He also extended condolences to the girls' parents and loved ones, asking the faithful to pray for the repose of the sisters and for God's comfort to strengthen the grieving family.

Previously, the UOJ reported that the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra suffered heavy damage during a Russian assault.