UKRAINIAN ORTHFODOX CHURCH OF THE USA

CONSISTORY OFFFICE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS

PRESS RELEASE

Pilgrims of the Church Visit the Church of Nativity of our Lord in Bethlehem!

On November 18, 2014, His Grace Bishop Daniel and a group of pilgrims of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, who are in Holy Land on their annual pilgrimage, participated in a celebration of the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Nativity of our Lord in Bethlehem.

In the early hours of the morning (5am) when the Orthodox Church from around the world gathered at the place of birth of Christ the Savior, Bishop Daniel (along with several other hierarchs of various Orthodox Churches) presided over the Divine Liturgy in the Church of the Nativity. Praying at the service were hundreds of pilgrims from Ukraine, Romania, Poland, Greece, Russia and other countries. Concelebrating with the local Greek Orthodox Metropolitan (Patriarchate of Jerusalem) were Very Rev. Fr. Volodymyr Steliac and Rev. Fr. Anthony Perkins.

During and after the Liturgy, the pilgrims of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA prayerfully chanted the responses and various hymns in Ukrainian and English languages. In conclusion of the visit to Bethlehem, Vladyka Daniel stated:

“I am glad to have an opportunity, upon the blessing of His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem and Palestine and His Eminence Metropolitan Antony (UOC of the USA), to participate in the Divine Liturgy at this holy place, where the Orthodox Church throughout the world travel to receive a blessing of the Savior."

Later in the day, the pilgrims visited the ancient St. Sabbas Monastery, the Shepherds’ field, the Church of the Holy Cross and other sacred places for Orthodox Christians in particular and for Christians in general.

That same evening, the pilgrims paid their last farewell to Holy Land as they continue their journey to the ancient city of Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey), where the meeting with his All-Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew is scheduled for Friday, November 21, 2014.