Representatives of the UGCC deliver humanitarian aid to the de-occupied territories of the Kharkiv region
This is reported by UGCC Information Department.
Father Andriy Nasinnyk (director of "Caritas-Kharkiv"), Fr. Mykhailo Stanchyshyn, TI and Fr Oleksiy Pogranychny, who serve and volunteer at the Kharkiv Cathedral of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker of the UGCC, has already visited and handed over food and hygiene kits to residents of the villages of Stary Saltov, Kazachya Lopan, Tsyrkuny, Vilcha.
The team visited the de-occupied village of Shevchenkovo, where there is a special town for people leaving the occupied territories.
"People who leave their homes should feel love and care because this is one of our main tasks," says Fr. Andriy.
The village of Vilcha, Volchansky district, located a few kilometers from the Russian border, was one of the first to suffer. The local parish of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos of the UGCC has been under occupation since February 24, but the church and parish house miraculously survived.
Residents of the village who did not leave their homes happily welcomed the long-awaited guests from Kharkiv and shared their memories and experiences during the occupation: "There is no water, there is no light, we tolerate it, but we are very happy that you came to us."
People have experienced a lot of grief and especially need to be listened to and spiritually supported.
Oleksiy's sister, Abbess of the St. Ivano-Pavlovsk monastery in Kharkiv, has been helping Kharkiv and its surroundings since the beginning of the war, and after the liberation of the territories, she actively visits de-occupied cities and villages.
"I am glad that I can bring a piece of joy to people who have experienced a lot of grief. Humanitarian aid and other necessary products are only a small part of what residents of towns and cities need because the war has left its mark on the hearts and souls of every Ukrainian for a long time," says the nun.
A significant part of the volunteer work is also carried out by the parish of St. Dmytro in Kharkiv. In addition to humanitarian support for the city's residents, priests and parishioners of the church also visit the de-occupied territories. In particular, volunteers have already visited Izyum, Balakliya, Shabelinka, and Donets. Bishop Hlib Lonchyna also joined the trip to Izyum, who prayed at the site of mass graves of tortured Ukrainians.
"In Izyum, we visited people who live without water, electricity, communications, brought them food and hygiene products," says Olga Bondar-Riznichenko, a participant in the trip, a volunteer of St. Dmytro's church.
