In Lviv, the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Metropolitan Epiphanius, paid tribute to the fallen defenders of Ukraine at the Field of Honourable Burials at Lychakiv Cemetery. The commemoration took place on 3 November.
Joining the Head of the OCU in prayer were the Chief of Staff of the Lviv Regional Council, Yaroslav Hasiak, representatives of the Lviv Regional Military Administration, the city authorities and the clergy. Participants in the joint prayer laid flowers at the graves of Ukrainian soldiers who died defending the independence and territorial integrity of the state.
“Today we bow our heads before our Heroes who gave what was most precious for Ukraine — their lives. It is our duty to preserve the memory of each one of them and to be worthy of their sacrifice. We are grateful to His Beatitude Metropolitan Epiphanius and the clergy for their prayers for our fallen Defenders, both men and women, and for their support for their families and for Ukraine. Eternal memory and glory to our Heroes,” noted Yaroslav Hasiak.
The visit of Metropolitan Epiphanius to Lviv is dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the episcopal consecration of Metropolitan Makariy of Lviv of the OCU. It was on 3 November 1996 in Lviv that Bishop Makariy was consecrated as Bishop of Lviv of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church.
To mark the anniversary, a Divine Liturgy is planned at the Archcathedral of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God in Lviv, to be led by the Head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. The service will begin at 10:00.
It is also reported that on the previous day, 2 November, Metropolitan Epiphanius, in the courtyard of the Church of the Holy Great Martyr George the Victory-Bearer on Taras Bobanych Street in Lviv, unveiled and consecrated a memorial plaque dedicated to the prominent Ukrainian historian, statesman and political figure Mykhailo Hrushevsky.