On the first Sunday of Great Lent, the Orthodox faithful around the world commemorate the Sunday of Orthodoxy, a feast celebrating the victory of the Church over the heresy of iconoclasm and the restoration of the veneration of holy icons. This sacred occasion, rich with historical and spiritual significance, was solemnly observed at the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. George in Constantinople, Turkey, the heart of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

In a truly historic prayer service, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and His Beatitude Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine concelebrated the Divine Liturgy, joined by hierarchs from across the Orthodox Christian world. Hundreds of faithful, clergy, and pilgrims from across the city and beyond traveled to the spiritual headquarters of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to partake in this profound and moving celebration of the first Sunday of Great Lent. 

Among the esteemed hierarchs present was His Eminence Archbishop Daniel, who, upon the invitation of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, represented the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the United States of America. Standing alongside ten hierarchs, including the two primates of the Orthodox Churches of Constantinople and Ukraine, Archbishop Daniel participated in this sacred liturgical celebration as a witness to the unity and strength of the Orthodox Church worldwide.

Within the venerable walls of St. George’s Patriarchal Cathedral, which has stood for centuries as a beacon of Orthodoxy, Archbishop Daniel stood at the second altar, lifting his voice in prayer with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine. Together, they prayed for the unity of the Holy Orthodox Church, for peace in the world, and especially for peace in Ukraine, the ancestral homeland of Ukrainian Orthodox Christians in the United States and throughout the diaspora.

In recognition of the deep spiritual and historical significance of the occasion, the Consul General of Ukraine in Istanbul, Roman Nedilskyi, and his wife, Ludmyla Nedilska, were present at the prayerful celebration of the Sunday of Orthodoxy, standing in solidarity with the Ukrainian faithful and offering their prayers for their homeland.

Following the Divine Liturgy, the faithful witnessed the traditional procession of holy icons, an integral part of the Sunday of Orthodoxy celebrations. This solemn and awe-inspiring procession recalls the historic restoration of the veneration of icons in 843 AD, a defining moment for Orthodox Christianity. Each hierarch present held an icon, signifying the victory of the Orthodox faith and the triumph of truth over heresy.

As the hierarchs, clergy, and faithful carried the icons through the sacred halls of the Patriarchal Cathedral, their procession echoed the age-old proclamation of the Church:

"This is the faith of the Apostles! This is the faith of the Fathers! This is the faith of the Orthodox! This is the faith that has established the universe!"

The presence of Archbishop Daniel in this profound act of faith and tradition served as a living testament to the enduring unity of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA with the Mother Church of Constantinople and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. The Sunday of Orthodoxy is not merely a commemoration of the past but a celebration of the enduring faith that unites Orthodox Christians across nations and generations.

The participation of Metropolitan Epifaniy and the Ukrainian Orthodox delegation, including Archbishop Daniel, at the Ecumenical Patriarchate carries deep spiritual and historical significance. It reaffirms the unwavering bond between the Orthodox faithful of Ukraine, the Ukrainian diaspora, and the Mother Church of Constantinople.

In a time when Ukraine faces immense suffering and trials, the prayers lifted at the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. George - by the Ecumenical Patriarch, the Metropolitan of Kyiv, and Orthodox hierarchs from across the world - served as a powerful beacon of hope and a call for divine intervention. The unity displayed in Constantinople was a visible sign of the Orthodox Church’s unwavering support for the Ukrainian people, reaffirming their rightful place in the global Orthodox Christian family.

This celebration reminds us that Orthodoxy is not just a theological tradition but a living faith, one that has endured persecution, trials, and divisions, yet remains steadfast in its mission to bring Christ’s truth to the world. The victory of the Church over iconoclasm symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness, of truth over falsehood, and of faith over despair.

Archbishop Daniel’s presence at the Patriarchal Cathedral alongside Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Metropolitan Epifaniy was more than ceremonial it was a witness to the unity of the Orthodox Church, the resilience of the Ukrainian Orthodox faithful, and the continued guidance of the Mother Church in Constantinople.

As Orthodox Christians around the world continue their Lenten journey, may the triumph of Orthodoxy inspire us to remain steadfast in our faith, committed to truth, and united in Christ. Let us carry the light of the Sunday of Orthodoxy into our lives, bearing witness to the unshakable foundation upon which the Holy Orthodox Church stands.

May the Lord strengthen His Holy Church, grant peace to the world, and bless the faithful who strive to uphold His truth!