His Beatitude Sviatoslav prayed in the UOC church by the miraculous Cross at which St. Josaphat Kuntsevych had once prayed

As part of his visit to Volodymyr-Volynskyi, UGCC Primate prayed in a Ukrainian Orthodox Church by the ancient Crucifixion (end of 15^th century), by which in his time  at  Saint Paraskeviya Church, prayed  Priest Martyr Josaphat whose heart was warmed by a spark originating from the Savior’s Crucifix.

At present, this Crucifix is in the ancient cathedral of the Volodymyr bishops – the Sviato Uspensky Cathederal.  This church was founded by the Halych-Volyn King Mstyslav Iziaslavovych around 1156-1160, and in this cathedral is buried the founder himself as well as other kings of Halych Rus.

The cathedral is unique in UGCC since it was the seat of the Volodymyr-Berestey bishops (1596-1795) and Kyiv metropolitans – Ipatiy Potiy, Lev Zelensky, Lev Kyshka, and Pylyp Volodkovych, whose remains rest in the crypt of the cathedral.

With the blessing of UOC Bishop Volodymyr (Melnyk) of Volodymyr Volynskyi, His Beatitude Sviatoslav was greeted by archimandrite  Sava Miakota, the eparchy secretary,  archmonk  Seraphim Mozheliuk, head of the eparchy office,  and deacon Viktor Martynenko, press secretary of the eparchy.

In Volodymyr-Volynskyi, the Church Primate also visited UOC Sviato-Uspensky Zymnensky Monastery and prayed by the ancient miraculous icon of the Blessed Mother.  This icon was venerated in the 17-18^th centuries by the Basilian Fathers, who carried out heroic acts in this monastic abode, founded at the end of the 10^th century.

UGCC Department of Information