UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE USA

CONSISTORY OFFICE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS

PRESS RELEASE

UOC of the USA Delivers Aid to the Wounded Soldiers and Refugees of Ukraine

Once again, fulfilling the mandate of the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, who answered the Archpastoral Appeal of the Council of Bishops, the Consistory of the Church sent additional $20,000 to the Military Medical Clinical Centers of Ukraine as well as the refugee Camps of displaced persons from Donbas region of Ukraine.

With the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Antony, His Grace Bishop Daniel, President of the Consistory of the UOC of the USA traveled to the capital of Ukraine in order to finalize the paperwork for prospective seminarians of St. Sophia Ukrainian Orthodox Theological Seminary, used the opportunity of being in Kyiv and visited the medical facilities of Ukrainian Armed Forces in Central and Eastern Ukraine.

On the feast day of Holy Wonderworker Nicholas, December 19, 2014 - Vladyka Daniel, escorted by professor Taras Myronyuk of Kyiv Hrinchenko University and Dr. Yuriy Marchenko, visited two medical facilities in Kyiv, where a number of wounded Ukrainian soldiers receive medical treatment. Meeting with families of the wounded the bishop related the love, prayerful support and solidarity of the entire Ukrainian-American, and especially Ukrainian Orthodox communities with the people of Ukraine. His Grace stated: “For over a year now, the faithful of the UOC of the USA gather in their parishes to hold prayer services for the suffering, wounded and deceased. Today, I visit these brave men with a profound sense of gratitude for their service and the ultimate sacrifice that so many of them have made. Today, I bring with me the prayerful well wishes of the clergy and the faithful not only of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, but also the clergy and faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox communities of Australia and New Zealand. Representing our Prime Hierarch Metropolitan Antony and the clergy with the faithful of Ukrainian Orthodox Christians throughout the world I bow down in front of you, yet praying the Almighty God for your healing, both physical and spiritual…” At the end of his visit, Vladyka Daniel approached each soldier to personally offer a blessing and while at the refugee camp, the bishop prayed a small Moleben service, bestowing upon over 180 individuals, especially the children, many of whom were born in the Camp and named in honor of the patron saint of Vladyka Daniel - Holy Prophet Daniel, the blessing of the Lord.

Over 200 wounded Ukrainian soldiers became recipients of over $200,000 since the beginning of war in Ukraine. This time around a number of soldiers and refugees of the local displaced persons camp, located at Logos Christian center under the leadership of Rev. Fr. Mykola Ilnytskyy, received financial help, provided by the clergy and faithful of the Church.

The Consistory Offices of the Church offer sincerest gratitude to every person, organization and parish community of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA and Diaspora for their sincere and generous donations that were received and continue to be delivered in order to provided additional assistance to those in need. God’s blessing be with each one of you!