Metropolitan Borys Gudziak of Philadelphia, President of UCU, visited Odesa. He was accompanied by the Exarch of Odesa, Bishop Mykhailo Bubniy, and the naval chaplain, Fr Oleksandr Smerechynskyi.
According to the press service of the Odesa Exarchate, the bishop met with the faithful, war-affected people, the community of people with hearing impairments, government officials and business representatives. He visited the parishes of St. Michael the Archangel and Ascension of the Lord of the UGCC in Odesa.
During the visit, Bishop Borys led the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral Church of St. Andrew the First-Called.
The bishop handed over humanitarian aid from the Philadelphia Metropolitan Archeparchy of the UGCC and visited the Caritas-Odesa Charitable Foundation, where he spoke with its representatives about their activities and assistance to the community.
The bishop also visited the faithful of the Roman Catholic Church, where he celebrated the Liturgy.
The Exarch of Odesa, Bishop Mykhailo, expressed his gratitude to Metropolitan Borys for the support of the Odesa Eparchy, noting that “this is a unique opportunity to thank him personally for his comprehensive support, including financial support, and to hear the words of support and solidarity of the entire U.S. Catholic community in this struggle of the Ukrainian people for freedom, independence and statehood.”