An important event took place in Santa Clara, California, at St. Volodymyr's Church - the official establishment of St. Volodymyr's Parish as part of the Chicago Eparchy of St. Nicholas of the UGCC. Before that, the parish functioned as a missionary village.
This was reported on the UGCC website.
"The parishioners, together with the administrator of the church, Fr. Roman Bobesyuk, Fr. Denys Smolyarsky and Deacon Oleh Zatvarsky, solemnly welcomed Bishop Venedykt Aleksiychuk, Bishop of the Eparchy of St. Nicholas in Chicago. The Bishop was greeted with bread, salt and flowers as an expression of their respect and spiritual unity," the UGCC reported on the celebrations.
During the Hierarchical Liturgy, which began with the bringing out and veneration of the Holy Cross, Bishop Venedykt's pastoral address urged the faithful to value time and to remember their vocation to grow closer to God and to serve their neighbours.
Two decrees were read out during the service. The first, on the establishment of a full parish of St. Volodymyr, officially raised the missionary station to the level of a parish, opening up new prospects for the development of the community. The second decree was about the transfer of the relics of the Blessed Martyr Mykola Charnetsky to the parish, which will now be kept in the church and become a spiritual support for the faithful.
The celebration concluded with a word of thanksgiving by Fr. Roman Bobesiuk and the Bishop's blessing of the spiritual family of Ukrainians in Northern California.
Photo: ugcc.ua
Author: Inna Mikhno