Hierarchs of UOC and OCCLS celebrate joint service in Prague

On March 15, 2025, in the Cathedral of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Prague, the hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia held a joint service dedicated to the tenth anniversary of the episcopal ordination of Archbishop Michael of Prague. This was reported by the press service of the Khmelnytsky Eparchy of the UOC.

It is reported that with the blessing of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy of Kyiv and All Ukraine and at the invitation of Archbishop Michael of Prague and the Czech Lands, Metropolitan Victor of Khmelnytsky and Starokonstantinovka, Vicar of the Kyiv Metropolis, Archbishop Damian of Fastiv, and Vicar of the Mukachevo Diocese, Bishop Hilariy of Svalyava, took part in the celebrations on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the episcopal ordination of Archbishop Michael. The bishops were concelebrated by the clergy of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

“On this significant day, greeting Your Eminence, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to you for your support of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, especially our clergy and laity who took refuge in your diocese during the brutal war. With your mercy, passionate prayers before the Throne of the Most High and wise sayings, you present a visible guarantee of our unity of spirit in the union of peace (Ephesians 4:3),” — Metropolitan Victor of Khmelnytsky and Starokonstantinovka read out the greetings of the Primate of the UOC.

As reported, on September 3, 2024, the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia issued a statement in which it expressed support for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine. The Synod of the OCCLS stated that democratic countries cannot adopt laws aimed at prohibiting the activities of religious organizations.