Donetsk, November 5, 2024
On November 3, in the 19th Week of Pentecost, a solemn divine service was held. His Eminence Vladimir, Metropolitan of Donetsk and Mariupol, celebrated his first Divine Liturgy on Donetsk land. The service was held under the arches of the main church of our diocese - the Transfiguration Cathedral of the Savior of Donetsk, whose community on this day celebrates its Throne Feast - the day of the memory of the Monk Hilarion, schemer of Pechersk (in honor of this saint consecrated the left side chapel of the cathedral).
At the entrance to the temple the Ruling Hierarch was met by representatives of the public, parishioners of various churches of the city of Donetsk, numerous representatives of the media. Under the bell ringing Vladyka Vladimir was greeted by the Parish Council of the cathedral at the temple gate with traditional flowers, loaf and good wishes.
Metropolitan Vladimir was served by vicar bishops of the Donetsk diocese:
- Highly Eminent Barnabas, Archbishop of Makeyevka;
- Highly Eminent Barsonofiy, Archbishop of Novoazovsk;
- Highly Eminent Amvrosiy, Archbishop of Volnovakha.
Among the co-servers were the clergy of the churches of the Donetsk diocese, as well as Archpriest John Sergeev and Archpriest John Deputatov.
At the Liturgy of the Hours, Archpriest George Danilchuk, dean of the Preobrazhensky District, addressed the worshipers with a sermon, in which he emphasized the special importance and relevance of the Gospel examples and parables for modern man.
The Divine Liturgy ended with a prayer service to invoke the help of the Holy Spirit before beginning any good deed. The clergy and laity offered a fervent prayer that the All-Merciful Lord God would bless good deeds. His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir's intention to administer the Donetsk diocese without obstacles, to the glory of God and to strengthen the Holy Church by the power and action of the Holy Spirit.
After the proclamation of many thanksgivings to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir, vicar archpastors, clergy and laity, His Eminence Archbishop Barnabas addressed the Ruling Hierarch with a welcoming address:
"Your Eminence, dear Vladyka Metropolitan Vladimir! By the decision of the Holy Synod and the wise decision of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, you have been appointed to the Donetsk cathedra to be Metropolitan of Donetsk and Mariupol. Before that you headed other dioceses and, from the edge of the earth, to the edge of the earth you came here from the eastern gate of the country to the laboring Donbass. Here the inhabitants are laborers! And as His Holiness Patriarch Kirill noted when visiting Donbas: "Donbas knows how to work, Donbas knows how to pray!"... And, after many hardships of recent years, today the land of Donetsk welcomes You. People are tired of the turmoil, and, apparently, the Lord has sent You by His grace as if to reinforce You here with fresh forces to continue the work begun to strengthen spirituality in Donbass.
Then our new Diocesan Hierarch, Metropolitan Vladimir, addressed all those present: "Your Eminences, dear Vladyks, fellow archpastors, all-honorable Fathers, Mother Abbesses, dear brothers and sisters! I would like to cordially congratulate all of you on this festive day, when I really enter the Donetsk cathedra by the work of the Holy Spirit and with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the Primate of our Church and the Holy Synod. Today, here, under the arches of this majestic cathedral, we celebrated the Divine Liturgy and received Holy Communion from the One Chalice with the Body and Blood of Christ We also celebrated a prayer service at the end of the liturgy before the beginning of every good deed. Because, indeed, the works ahead of all of us, not only me, but all the clergy, all the flock of Donetsk are vast, important, significant. There is a lot to be done. But I think that all of us, united, glorifying the Lord with one mouth and one heart, will be able to fulfill all that the Lord has laid down for us to do... I rejoice that, although the Donetsk land and the whole Donbass has passed a decade and continues to pass a period of terrible trials, I saw, stepping on this land, that, in the words of St. John Chrysostom, "life lives on", including Orthodox, national, social life. And in this I see the hope that with God's help, prayers and efforts of all of us will continue to build life in this heroic, complex, long-suffering, but glorious region."
Vladyka Vladimir emphasized the special importance of true unity as a fundamental basis for the creation of early peace and prosperity.
At the end of the prayer and mutual congratulations, Vladyka Vladimir gave all those praying a holy blessing, and also paid attention to communicating with the press of various information organizations. publications and agencies.
