Note: from September 29 through October 9 His Eminence Archbishop Peter is on an official pilgrimage to the Holy Places of Ukraine. We ask your prayers for our archpastor as he travels, as well as Archpriest Tarasiy Maximtsev, who is accompanying Vladyka.

As reported on the official web site of the Poltava and Mirgorod diocese, on the 30th of September, 2021, the day of the commemoration of the Martyrs Faith, Hope, Love, and their mother Sophia, His Eminence Metropolitan Philip of Poltava and Mirgorod, and His Eminence Peter, Archbishop of Chicago & Mid-America, led the Divine Liturgy at the church of Martyrs Faith, Hope, Love, and Sophia in Poltava, which marks its patronal feast on this day.

Serving with the archpastors was the Secretary of the Poltava Diocese, Archpriest Michael Boloshchuk, the diocesan Press Secretary, Archpriest Nikolai Dovganich, the Dean of the Poltava City Deanery, Archpriest John Korinenko, Archpriest Tarasiy Maximtsev, guests in the priestly order, and clergy of the city of Poltava.

During the service, intense prayers were raised entreating an end to the coronavirus epidemic, and for medical staff who are fighting for the life and health of the suffering.

At the conclusion of the service, His Eminence Vladyka Philip thanked Vladyka Peter for his visit and their joint prayer, congratulated the parishioners on their patronal feast day, and those named after the day’s saints with their name’s days.

In turn, Archbishop Peter thanked Metropolitan Philip and the Poltava clergy for their warm welcome. And also, as a sign of spiritual unity, in prayerful memory of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco, Vladyka Peter gifted Vladyka Philip with a small omophorion, an epitrachelion, liturgical cuffs, and a skufia that belonged to St. John.

Archbishop Peter and Fr. Tarasiy continued their pilgrimage after the festal meal in Poltava, setting off for Kharkov, moving east towards the birth place of St. John of Shanghai & San Francisco, the village of Adamovka.

Photos and a Russian language article on the proceedings of the day can be found a the web site of the Poltava and Mirgorod Diocese: http://pravoslavie.poltava.ua/ru/день-памяти-святых-мучениц-веры-надеж/