His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr Conducted Festivities Dedicated to Glorification of St. John of Putivl

On July 27, the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church visited the town of Putivl (Sumy region), where he presided over the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Transfiguration Church.  

Concelebrating to His Beatitude were Archbishop Amvrosy of Chernihiv and Novhorod-Siverskyi, Archbishop Luka of Konotop and Hlukhiv, Bishop Hilary of Makariv, Secretary for the Primate of the UOC Alexander of Pereyasdlav-Khmelnytskyi and diocesan clergy.   

In the course of the divine service the rite of glorification among the saints of the Right-Believing Prince John of Putivl, Martyr and Wonderworker, was carried out.  

After Bishop Hilary of Makariv  have read the resolution of the Holy Synod of the UOC of March 25, present year (Journal № 06) on inclusion of the martyr John of Putivl to the church calendar, and Archbishop Luka of Konotop and Hlukhiv acquainted the faithful and clergy with the life of the saint, the icon of the right-believing prince was brought into the middle of the church, by which the Primate blessed the faithful. 

At the end of the service Metropolitan Volodymyr thanked those present for the joint prayers raised on that day to the Lord and greeted them on the feast of glorification among the ranks of martyrs of St. John of Putivl.   

"May the Lord hear our plea and grant everyone the eternal life. May the Lord give all of us peace and conciliation", said the Archpastor. 

As a keepsake of the event, the ruling bishop of the Diocese of Konotop Archbishop Luka gifted His Beatitude Volodymyr with an icon of the glorified saint. 

After the liturgical service the Primate visited the Putivl Convent of Nativity of the Theotokos in Molcnansk, where he was received by Mother Superior of the abode hegumeness Theodosia (Zapolska) with nuns and parishioners. There His Beatitude Metropolitan made prayerfully bowed unto the monastery shrine - the Wonderworking Molchansk (Putivl) Icon of the Theotokos and blessed all those present. 

Unfortunately, there is practically no information on John of Putivl. It is known that the right-believing Prince John was grandchild of St. Michael of Chernihiv.  In the so-called "Lubech commemoration book" (XIII-XIV centuries) there are mentions of the name of the Prince John of Putivl, passion-bearer and wonderworker, killed by the tartars for Christians". He suffered martyr's death and was glorified by the posthumous wonders.   

Maxim Sydorenko
Photos by Maxim Brusnyka