Delegation of Orthodox Church of Greece Visited West Ukraine Monasteries
The delegation of the Orthodox Church of Greece, which stays on a visit in Ukraine in connection with bringing of the relics of the Holy Hierarch Spyridon of Tremithous, headed by Metropolitan Nectarios of Kerkira, Paxoi and Diapontioi Nisoi visited several monasteries in West Ukraine on April 28-29. The delegation was accompanied by the co-worker of the Department for External Church Relations archpriest Mykolia Danylevych.
Thus, on April 28 the Greek delegation called to the Holy Trinity Convent of Korets. Hegumeness Rafayla with nuns welcomed the guests at the main church of the convent. Metropolitan Nectarios with accompanying persons bowed unto the Korets Icon of the Theothokos “Warantress of the Sinful” and looked over the convent, following which Mother Hegumeness invited the guests to dinner.
The same day in the evening the delegation of the Orthodox Church of Greece arrived to the Holy Dormition Pochayiv Lavra. At the gate of the monastery the guests were welcomed and greeted on their arrival to the shrine of the Volyn lands by Deputy Abbot of Lavra – Archbishop Volodymyr of Pochayiv with brethren. Thereafter they proceeded to the Cathedral of Dormition, where the guests bowed unto the Footprint and the Wonderworking Icon of the Mother of God. Then the Greek clergymen prayed at the relics of the Venerable Job and Amphilochius of Pochayiv.
The next day Metropolitan Nectarios of Kerkira, Paxoi and Diapontioi Nisoi and Archbishop Volodymyr of Pochayiv conducted the prayer service at the wonderworking Pochayiv Icon of the Mother of God. In his word upon completion of the prayer service Metropolitan Nectarios thanked Archbishop Volodymyr for the opportunity to visit Lavra, and said that he had read a lot about this Ukrainian shrine, and called the faithful to preserve unity, not to follow the false pastors and to remain in the fold of the One and Holy Apostolic Church. Vladyka also noted the high degree of piety of the Ukrainian Orthodox people, their openness and sincerity. As a keepsake of visit to Lavra Archbishop Volodymyr presented the guest with the Icon of the Mother of God of Pochayiv.
Right after the prayer service the delegation visited the Theological Seminary of Pochayiv, where they were met by its Rector archimandrite Nathanael, pedagogical staff and students. Addressing the students, Metropolitan Nectarios underscored the necessity of responsible preparation to pastoral ministry in the complex situation of the life of modern society, to be modern pastors and witness Christ with their own lives.
The same day the guests visited the Pochayiv Lavra Hermitage of the Holy Spirit, the Monastery of Theophany in Kremenets and the Convent of St. Nicholas in Horodok.
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