More photos: uocofusa.org
The
2019 group of pilgrims from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA
under the spiritual leadership of His Eminence Archbishop Daniel safely
departed Tel-Alvin, Israel following a 10-day pilgrimage to the sacred
sites of Holy Land and on Thursday, November 14, 2019 arrived in
Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey).
The itinerary of this year’s pilgrimage
placed the faithful of the Church at the ancient homeland of the Holy
Ukrainian Orthodox Christian Church. The following three days of the
pilgrimage were dedicated to the historical and spiritual importance of
the old city of Constantinople, the center of Byzantine world. Vladyka
Daniel, assisted by the tour guides of Select Travel International,
scheduled to visit numerous historical sites of the city, among which
the TopKapi palace, the residence and administrative center of the
fallen Ottoman Empire. The highlight of the visit to the palace/museum
will be the ability to approach the relics of Holy Prophet John the
Baptizer that until this day are housed at the museum.
The
itinerary of the following two days of the pilgrimage included visits
to the church of Holy Peace (Hagia Eirene), which was dedicated by the
Emperor Constantine the Great to the peace of God, and is one of the
three shrines which the Emperor devoted to God's attributes, together
with Hagia Sophia (Wisdom) and Hagia Dynamis (Force); The Church of the
Holy Savior in Chora, which is considered to be one of the most
beautiful surviving examples of a Byzantine church, and most importantly
to the Great Church of Holy Wisdom – Hagia Sophia.
Prior to the visit to the Spiritual
Headquarters of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the
pilgrims of the church paid a short visit to St. Stephen, the First
Martyr and Archdeacon Bulgarian Orthodox Church in Constantinople, thus
paying special tribute to the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Cyril and
Methodius, the enlighteners of the land of Kyivan Rus.
With
the blessing of His All-Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew I, who is
presently on the Patriarchal trip to Belgium for the celebration of the
50th anniversary of establishment of the Holy Metropolis of
Belgium, the pilgrims of the Church held a special audience with His
Eminence Elder Metropolitan Apostolos of Derkoi, the Patriarchal Vicar.
After greeting pilgrims personally, His
Eminence Metropolitan Apostolos presented them with a small golden cross
to mark the occasion. Addressing the pilgrims on the behalf of the
Primate of the Church of Constantinople, Metropolitan Apostolos stated,
“You have been blessed this journey an extraordinary visit to the sacred
sites of the Holy Land and the ability to concelebrate and participate
in the Liturgy in the Church of the Holy Sepulchral. It means your
journey was a success. His All-Holiness always looks forward to
receiving Ukrainian Orthodox pilgrims both from the United States of
America and Ukraine, but unfortunately, he is away these days. Some of
the greatest Fathers of the Church lived and worked in your ancestral
homeland… We extend our sincerest greetings and assurance of prayers to
your spiritual father – His Eminence Metropolitan Antony, under whose
pastoral care you seek the kingdom of God. Marching faithfully with your
spiritual fathers – Metropolitan Antony and Vladyka Daniel you will
always feel the grace of God and his caring love for you and the
God-loving people of Ukraine and the United States of America.”
In response to the words of welcome,
Archbishop Daniel expressed most sincere greetings of His Eminence
Metropolitan Antony and the entire group of pilgrims to His
All-Holiness, while briefly reflecting on the importance of parental
love of the Chief Shepherd of the flock of the Holy Mother Church of
Constantinople for the Orthodox faithful both in Ukraine and in
Diaspora, as it became evident in the most recent pastoral actions of
the Church of Constantinople, caring for the Ukrainian Orthodox
faithful.
In
conclusion of the meeting, Vladyka Daniel, assisted by Very Rev. Fr.
Taras Naumenko, member of the Consistory of the UOC of the USA, Very
Rev. Fr. Todor Mazur and Fr. Orest Poukhalskii presented the Patriarchal
Vicar with the beautiful rendition of Ukrainian pysanka – decorated
Ostrich egg – a symbol of Christ’s Resurrection.
Bidding farewell to the Patriarchate,
Vladyka Daniel and the pilgrims of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the
USA received a blessing from the Patriarchal Vicar for a safe trip to
the United States of America, thus concluding the 2019 Pilgrimage to
Holy Land and Constantinople.
To read more about the Patriarchate of Constantinople, visit the official web site of the Patriarchate.