The head of the Orthodox Church in America, Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada Tikhon, visited Ukraine. On June 1, Metropolitan Tikhon led the all-night vigil at the Holy Spirit Cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the city of Chernivtsi, co-served by the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Onufriy of Kyiv.

After the reading of the Holy Gospel during the polyeleos, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy addressed the gathered faithful. The archpastor spoke about the visit of the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America. His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon expressed gratitude for the warm words of the Primate of the UOC and presented an icon of the Assembly of Saints who shone forth in the American land as a gift.

“I sincerely thank Your Beatitude, the clergy, and all the people here in Chernivtsi for this warm welcome and your genuine hospitality. I want to once again affirm my unwavering, brotherly love for you, Your Beatitude, for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and for all the Ukrainian people,” noted the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America.

Metropolitan Tikhon expressed his support for the Primate and the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and urged the Ukrainian authorities to respect freedom of religion in the country and adhere to international law norms.

Earlier, Metropolitan Tikhon addressed the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom regarding the situation around the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. Since last year, Ukrainian authorities have been attempting to evict the faithful and clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church from the monastery.

Photo: Information and Education Department of the UOC / news.church.ua