Regular session of the Commission for Preparation and Holding Events dedicated to the 25th anniversary of Chornibyl disaster Held
Ukrainian Church
On March 30 at the Holy Dormition Kyiv Caves Monastery the regular session of the Commission for Preparation and holding Events dedicated to 25th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster was conducted.
It was chaired by the commission’s head Bishop Nicodemus of Volodymyr-Volynskyy and Kovel. Taking part in the session also were Secretary for the Primate of the UOC archbishop Alexander of Pereyaslav-Khmelnytskyy, Chair of the Synodal Information Department of the UOC archpriest George Kovalenko, Chair of the Protocol Service of the Kyiv Metropolis archpriest Valery Kravets, Chair of the Synodal Department гof the UOC Mission Church and Culture hegumeness Seraphima Shevchyk, Lavra’s bursar archimandrite Varsonofy Stolyar, rector of the Church of St Elias in Slavutych archpriest Ioann Shepida, rector of St Elias Church in Chornobyl archpriest Mykolai Yakushyn, rector of the “Chornobyl” Church of St Michael the Archangel in Darnytsia archpriest Bohdan Shtym, Chair of the Synodal Department for Charity and Social Ministry Archdeacon Serhiy Kosovskyy, journalists and other commission members.
His Eminence Nicodemus informed the working group on the visit to Chornobyl zone on March 29, where the territory was examined to find a place for conducting the Divine Liturgy.
“At the second commission’s assembly the report on fulfillment of the protocol assignments of March 3 – the first working session date. Thus the draft petition of the Holy Synod of the UOC was prepared and the draft amendments to the Paschal Liturgy and the logotype created to decorate the certificate of the order of the Holy Hierarch Theodoius of Chernihiv – the church order for Chornobyl heroes”, director of the Spiritual Enlighetnment Center of the UOC Cathedral of resurrection of Christ Olena Reznikova told.
According to Olena Mikhailovna, in the exclusion zone the cross protection will be also held in order to give prayer and spiritual support to those living near Chornobyl Atomic Station.
“In this connection there was a proposal to carry in a sacred procession not only a piece of relics of the Holy Hierarch Theodoius of Chernihiv, but also the pieces of relics of our Venerable Fathers of Caves – the healers Agapit and Damian, and a piece of relics of the Holy great martyr Panteleimon in order that people got physical and spiritual healing from him. A special reliquary will be manufactured for the shrines”, she said. As a result, the decision was taken to start a cross procession to Chornobyl with pieces of the relics of saints from the construction site of the UOC Cathedral in honor of Resurrection of Christ, after the Paschal service.
Archimandrite Varsonofy informed that in the icon workshop of the Kyiv caves monastery the iconic image of the holy Hierarch Theodosius is painted and is to be completed in time.
The president of All Ukraine Public Association “Soyuz Chronobyl of Ukraine”Yuri Borysovych Andreyev provided information to the Commission for organization of social assistance to Chornobyl victims on the necessity of buying medicines, medical equipment and heroes of Chornobyl staying under treatment.
