Another basement space consecrated for a persecuted UOC parish in Cherkasy

March 2, 2025 – On the eve of Great Lent, Metropolitan Theodosiy of Cherkasy and Kaniv consecrated a temporary church in honor of St. Seraphim of Sarov in the basement of a residential building in Cherkasy. According to the diocesan press service, this new "catacomb" church has become another place of prayer for persecuted parishioners of the seized UOC Cathedral.

"For Orthodox Christians, it is vital to create and adorn sacred places for communion with God – churches of the Lord. And the bright, unwavering desire to build churches even in catacombs has always been a driving force for many generations of persecuted Christians, both in ancient times and today," the statement reads.

Before the service, Metropolitan Theodosiy presented the new community with an icon of St. Seraphim of Sarov containing a relic of the saint. This icon was specially painted by craftsmen of the Glinsk Hermitage.

Following the consecration rite, the hierarch celebrated the first Divine Liturgy in the new church, assisted by the secretary of the Cherkasy Eparchy, Archpriest Vasyl Vozniuk, the church rector, Archpriest Serhiy Medved, and local clergy.

During the liturgy, a special prayer was offered for the persecuted Church.

At the conclusion of the communal prayer, the metropolitan addressed the faithful with words of spiritual encouragement, urging them to remain steadfast in their faith. He also presented church awards to those who helped establish and arrange the new church.

As the UOJ previously reported, the seized cathedral in Cherkasy is set to be used as a shelter for fans.