UOC-MP Primate Presided over Celebration of the 20th Anniversary of Metropolitan Niphont’s Episcopal Consecration
LUTSK – On April 21, 2010, the Orthodox Church commemorates the Holy Hierarch Niphont, Bishop of Novhorod. This day is also the name day of the ruling bishop of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) Diocese of Volyn – Metropolitan Niphont of Lutsk and Volyn. Bishop Niphont also celebrated the 20th anniversary of the beginning of his service to the church as a bishop, reported the website of the UOC-MP.
The celebrations on the occasion of this anniversary in Lutsk were led by the UOC-MP primate, Metropolitan Volodymyr.
Before the beginning of the Liturgy at the Church of All Saints of Volyn the primate was welcomed by the clergy and faithful.
The youngest parishioners of the Church of All Saints of Volyn – the pupils of the Sunday School – greeted Metropolitan Volodymyr and Metropolitan Niphont with poems. The pastors expressed a desire that the primate of the UOC preside over the first Liturgy at the Cathedral of All Saints of Volyn, which is now under construction.
After the service, the hierarch bestowed on the ruling bishop of the Diocese of Volyn the Order of the Holy Hierarch Theodosius of Chernihiv.
In his turn Metropolitan Niphont of Lutsk and Volyn addressed the primate with the following words of gratitude: "In the turbulent years you headed our Ukrainian Orthodox Church and throughout these years You have been its wise guide. And for us, the residents of Volyn, You are our spiritual father."
After the Liturgy the archpastor left for the Museum of the Volyn Icon, where he presented his valuable gift – a facsimile edition of the Peresopnytsia Gospel.
